STORIES

Lucy's Story

Lucy was an unexpected natural conception following prior infertility.

After a trouble free pregnancy Lucy Charlotte Whale was born by caesarean section on her due date (a breech baby). At birth she was diagnosed with Trisomy 18 (or Edwards Syndrome).

Harrison's Story

Harrison was born at 9:01pm on 26 April by emergency caesarean at 41 weeks. He was struggling to breath and at one stage he had to be revived. After being transferred to the Special Baby Care Unit at Hutt Hospital a team from the Wellington Neonatal Intensive Care Unit were called out to pick Harrison up by ambulance and take him to Wellington where he arrived at 1:30am.

Samuel's Story

23 weeks 3 days, 668 grams

My partner and I had just moved from Melbourne over to Wellington, New Zealand. A big step for us but one we were looking forward to. About a month after our arrival I found out I was pregnant with our first child. We were a little shocked but also excited, we knew it would be a challenge given we were in a new country away from all of our family and friends.

Taylor's Story

23 weeks 5 days, 580 grams

Waking to what I thought were growing pains I ignored them, went back to work and out for dinner with friends. During the next night my discomfort wasn't settling and I rang the hospital's midwife for some advice. I was in hospital within the next few hours for an 'observation'.

Charlotte's Story

23 weeks 3 days, 650 grams

Charlotte was born at 23 weeks and 3 days and weighed 650 grams (a really good weight for her gestation). It had been a really normal pregnancy, but about two weeks before she was born I started to feel unwell. I had contracted an infection that no one had picked up, and eventually resulted in me going into premature labour.

Emma's Story

25 weeks and 5 days, 490 grams.

During what was an uneventful pregnancy I suddenly got very sick with severe PET (pre-eclampsia toxaemia) and developed HELLP syndrome, this means I had high blood pressure, liver failure and my blood wasn't clotting. As a result I was flown by Lifeflight Air Ambulance from my home in Nelson to Wellington.