Tell us why you support and sign up for e-alerts
Use this page to tell us why you support STAND UP. Please also sign up for free e-alerts to hear about campaign news and how you can get involved in tackling premature birth. Thank you.
Use this page to tell us why you support STAND UP. Please also sign up for free e-alerts to hear about campaign news and how you can get involved in tackling premature birth. Thank you.
April 14th, 2009 at 12:42 pm
I am supporting the STAND UP campaign because I went into labour at 32 weeks and sadly our second son Dexter was born sleeping. If I can do anything to help stop this happening to other families then I will.
Keep up the good work. xx
April 14th, 2009 at 1:09 pm
I’m the mother of twins born at 26 weeks….they came close to death on a number of occasions, in fact I was told very soon after their birth not to expect both of them to be alive the following morning! I would want any other parent to go through what my husband and I went through in those 3 month after their birth. The NHS staff are amazing but prevention is surely better than cure, please prevent this from happening to others. We were the very lucky ones, our twins are two very healthy 3 year olds now…with no lasting effect of the premature birth, but everything could have been so different.
There was no reason for their premature birth, I will never know why they came so early.
April 14th, 2009 at 1:54 pm
At the age of 23 i decided it was the right time to start a family with my partner of 7 years, having come from a big family myself i always aspired to have a large family myslef.Apon finding i was pregnant i had many mixed emotions but the main feeling was happiness and excitment.
I ate well and did all the right things for the well being of my unborn child i looked forward to each week when the the day my pregnancy clicked forward another week.
Pregnant at 27 weeks plus 2 days i told my partner to take me to hospial not feeling right although felt nothing was wrong with my baby just within myself this was at 6 30 in the morning by 1.30pm that day my daughter was born i had hellp syndrome and severe pre ecclapsia my placenta ruptured with majour bleeding my baby was born while i was under under a general anesthetic with no recelection.
The next few days were a blur learning what had happended trying to take it all in and so the rollercoaster ride of having a premmie baby begun.
i watched my baby through a plastic box for the first 9 weeks of her life fighting sickness and infection induring tests and needles like such a brave liitle girl i saw so many babies along the way that didnt make it.
so many times i wondered if i would make it to the light at the other end of the tunnel.12 longs weeks later we brought out daugher home a day i dreamed of so for so long but was scared to in fear of the worst.
i thank god my family and friends the docters and nurses at the angliss hospital and monash medical centre who i am forever in debt to and no words can explain our gratitude specially Thank u to my daughter who never gave up.i am one of the lucky ones to those we met along our journey and those who were not as lucky as we were u have touched me forever i will never forget u and i thank u for in some way i have leart from u . i now understand the true meaning of bravery and standing in the face of fear i made it to the other side to tell my story and at 23 i can say i have learnt so much ………..love life treasure ur loved ones live everyday like its ur last life is precious
April 14th, 2009 at 2:12 pm
My son was 9 weeks premature and unfortunately he didn’t make it. I still don’t know what happened but I saw how it affected him as he struggled for a week to live. It was terrible to watch. I miss him terribly.
April 14th, 2009 at 3:20 pm
My daughter was born at 28 weeks in 2007. She is my miracle. She is a beautiful outgoing happy toddler now and so far has met all of her milestones. I am so proud of her and so thankful for all of the intervention that she needed to help her to grow and survive.
I will never know why she came early but 11 weeks ago I gave birth to my second daughter at term.
We saw so much heartache when on the NICU - I will never forget the emotions that we and others experienced while there.
April 14th, 2009 at 4:35 pm
My daughter, Eve, was born on 26 November 08 at 24 weeks and 6 days gestation weighing 1.5lb. We were told, even during delivery, that she couldn’t survive being so early, breach and with a prolapsed cord. I was asked if I wanted to hold her body when she was born.
We took Eve home on 11 March, the day before her due date and she now weighs 7lb 7oz. The weeks in between are almost impossible to describe - the fear, the tears, the agony, the hope.
While the care, support and skill of the staff at the neonatal unit at Simpsons, RIE in Edinburgh has been truly humbling - we have no idea why Eve came so early. I wouldn’t wish it on anyone. That’s why I support Stand Up for Tiny Lives.
April 14th, 2009 at 5:13 pm
I am supporting Stand Up, as my daughter was born at 25 weeks and 3 days, over a year ago (jan 08). We went through hell and she fought through all sorts of problems with her breathing, infections and she is now doing well, she came off oxygen two weeks ago and is starting to chatter and is amazing. But I still want to know why and I don’t want others going through what we went through. We were lucky, but it so easily could be a different story.
April 14th, 2009 at 6:45 pm
Hi premature birth has affected me all of my life really, my sister was born at 28 weeks, and my parents were told that she would not survive, however 35 years later she is very healthy and happy. My first daughter was born at 32 weeks, and after many complications she is a happy and healthy 6 year old, my 2nd daughter was also prem although not too early, 35 weeks, she is also a happy healthy 4 year old. Premature birth quite clearly runs in our family, but this doesnt appear to have been taken into account. Having said that the medical care and attention we received from the SCBU at Canterbury Hospital (which has now been closed down) was amazing and without the support and advice and care I dont know how we would have made it through. I realise that we are extremely lucky and reading some of the other tragic stories, i thank god that i have my precious daughters. x
April 14th, 2009 at 6:56 pm
I was born three months premature (26 weeks early) and my parents were so scared. I could’ve died, but God spared me. I am supporting this campaign because more research has to be done to help keep babies in the womb as long as possible.
April 14th, 2009 at 8:04 pm
I am supporting the STAND UP campaign after developing pre-eclampsia at 29 weeks and having my lovely son by emergency c-section at 29+4. We spent 10 long weeks in hospital with him before coming home.
He has now just turned 4 and is starting school in September, and it is testament to all the doctors and nurses who cared for him that he is the fantastic little boy he is today.
However, reading the coverage of Maddie Spohr makes me think of what could have happened and how things could have turned out, and more needs to be done to answer the whys and hows, so reasons for prematurity become better understood and managed.
April 14th, 2009 at 10:04 pm
Hi i suffered from pre-eclampsia with both my children,both were delivered by emergency c-section,my daughter was 5wks early & weighed 3 pound 14 oz’s & my son was 4wks early & weighed 4 pound 2 oz’z neither had any problem’s at all.I am so thankful 2 the special care staff & the Surlingham ward at the old Norfolk & Norwich Hospital.My daughter is now going 2 celebrate her 21st birthday & getting married this year,the 2 wks i spent in hospital before she was delivered were the most scary of my life ,but miracle’s do happen .
April 14th, 2009 at 11:50 pm
My daughter, jayne, was born on 13 june 06 at 26 weeks and 2 days gestation weighing 2.2lb. We were told, even during delivery, that she couldn’t survive being so early,
We took jayne home the day before her due date. The weeks in between are almost impossible to describe - the fear, the tears, the agony, the hope.
While the care, support and skill of the staff at the neonatal unit at RVI Newcastle and wansbeck Ashingtonhas been truly humbling - we have no idea why jayne came so early. I wouldn’t wish it on anyone. That’s why I support Stand Up for Tiny Lives.
jayne is 3 this year and she is doing good thanks
April 15th, 2009 at 11:50 am
my daughter was born on the 04/05/00 at just 24wks and weighing 1 lb 10,she was give less then 5% chance of survival but she proved them all wrong and sfter 5 1/2 long hard months in hospital she came home weighing 7lb.She will be 9 in 3wks and is doing really well,this is why i support stand up for tiny lives..
April 15th, 2009 at 12:15 pm
I suffered pre-eclampsia from 26+ weeks kept in hospital from 27 weeks,my son was born by c-section 29+ 2 days gestation weighing 920grms.
Richard was in neonatal unit for 6 months,blood tranfusion, henia op few days old and he had a open heart duct,they took blood from him daily from a little needle prick in his hands and feet too check his oxygen level in his blood.(he still has the little scare’s. He came home on oxygen just weighing over 5lbs and came off oxygen just before christmas. The support and care of the staff was amazing( lewisham hospital).
he had pneumonia and a chest infection before he was two,but now he is a healthy 8 year old.That is why i support stand up for tiny lives,all these hospitals need too stay open x
April 15th, 2009 at 12:36 pm
i am supporting this campaign as i had my first child 5 weeks early she weighed 4lb 9oz and was perfectly healthy, i had strep b in the pregnancy and my consultant believed this was the reason for her arriving so soon, i am fully aware of the hurt and damage this can do, and also i was a lucky one xoxo
April 21st, 2009 at 9:52 pm
As a mother of twins born 10 weeks early, a daughter if not for the love care and research of my consultant she would have been a preemie too, as a mother of a boy born asleep at 28 weeks,and a daughter born at 20 weeks alive for 10 mins only,i feel it is in honour of all my children and the future of others to end a voice to tiny lives.
It’s time the government injected hard cash into the research of premature births, instead of leaving it down to charities, if we can stop just one premature baby and its parents from feeling not only utter despair and emptiness,if we can make one family leave the hospital with their baby thanks to research into why these births occur and to whom, then its a job well done.
Mr brown, Mr Cameron as parents you need to join as politicians, you need to invest in our tiny babies survival
April 23rd, 2009 at 11:50 pm
I support this charity as i had a baby girl at 28 weeks and unfortunately she was born sleeping but babies can survive at this age and the support the nurses give them is unbelievable.
Im sure if my baby had been alive she would have been looked after well.
April 24th, 2009 at 1:00 am
I support Stand Up for Tiny Lives because I had my son Landen at 23 weeks and 6 days. I had no pain! Just felt off that day. When I started bleeding and rushed to the hospital I was 4 centimeters gone. The only thing that saved my sons life was that he was laying across the cervix and not head up or down. I spent 6 days on my head (for real) trying to stop labor. When I got an infection on the sixth day the doctor said they had to take him to save him. He weighed 1lb and 6oz. The doctors told us to be prepared for the worst. The doctor said I have a weak cervix and would never be able to carry a baby to term. He cried at birth, but I was out and didn’t get to hear him. Since it was an emergency C-section my husband was not allowed to be in there either. He was rushed 30 minutes from our home to the NICU at The North Mississippi Woman’s Hospital in Tupelo, Ms. He spent 4 months in there and finally came home to us a healthy 8lbs. We are forever grateful to the staff for their loving care they gave to our son. We have the biggest group of prayer warriors on Earth! Today - Landen will be 2 in a few weeks. He weighs 26lbs and is thriving and trying to catch up to his peers. He has a few developmental delays as a result of a brain bleed he had at 2 weeks old. My Mighty Man is a trooper. I thank God everyday for the honor to be his mommy. No parent should have to fear the birth of their child. We tried for 8 years to be parents. It should have been the happiest time of our lives. If anyone is through what we have and needs prayer. Email me at tammyhugg@yahoo.com. My Gods blessings always be with you.
May 1st, 2009 at 8:51 am
As a mother of boy born at 25weeks + 4 days weighing 2lb 1oz, I support this campaign whole heartledly. Like many other Mums I will never know what prompted our little boy to come early, and more scarily whether any future pregnancies will result in a premature birth. I look back now we are all home and wonder how my husband and I got through the 110 days our little boy spent in the SCBU in Reading. We were lucky to be surrounded by a team of brilliant Doctors and Nurses and to have a little boy who is truly a fighter. Every day I count my blessings that we have a healthy and extremely happy little boy (now weighing 14lbs), but I also know how close we came to losing him. As well as research in to why premature births happen, I also think more support should be given to the parents of premature babies with regards to the provision of maternity leave. For me my maternity leave started on the day my son was born, effectively meaning a third of my leave was used up whilst my son was in hospital. Surely dispensations could be given so that parents of premature babies do not have to lose out on quality home time once their child is home.
May 20th, 2009 at 10:13 pm
My daughter was 22 weeks pregnant when she started getting pains…it hadnt been an easy time for any of us…she had just turned 16 when we found out she was pregnant, in her final GCSE year,but decided she had got pregnant and she wouldnt do anything but keep the baby. We had a few bad times throughout the next few months. several times she had bleeding and we were always back and forward to the hospital…each time she was scanned and baby was fine. As she got bigger baby seemed to always bunch up on one side…which I thought bit strange…but Drs I spoke to didnt seem concerned. Anyway to get back to the point she started getting pains and we arrived at the hospital on early hours of Feb 14th, Midwife told us it was prob warter infection but maybe she was in labour. Listened to heartbeat which was very strong. My daughters pains started coming really quickly and from how she described them I thought she was in labour. It took 3 hours before she was seen by a Dr who then called the registrar. She was finally examined almost 3.5 hours later and we were told she was going to give birth…could be quick or could be few days, no advice was given and we were told nothing would be done to try and stop/prolong the labour and it would die. It was a very traumatic time. It was only then that my daughter was moved to a delivery room and the bed raised. Was also then told if she hadn’t delivered by morning consultant may scan her and posibly give stitch. Anyway Eloise was born at 08.28am, her heart was still beating but she wasnt even given to anyone to hold. Sometimes I think it was maybe because my daughter was only 16 that she was treated differently (the week before we had sorted out her 6th form timetable and she realised she still needed to forfil her ambitions as well as look after a baby)but now realise its not the case. We had to wait 2 months before the pathology report was done and we could have the funeral. There was no research or anything apart froma scan that my Dr had organised which my daughter had last week…it has found she has a Bicornulate Uterus which explains alot…but I really think so much more should be done. It was so clinical when my daughter had Eloise and the seemed to be a lack of sensitivity, I thought it was because of age but reading peoples stories I now realise this is not the case.
I sent a mail to my MP Alan Duncan and this was his reply…well not directly from him
Dear Mrs Bellis
Thank you for contacting me about premature babies.
I fully appreciate your concerns over this issue. Last December, the
National Audit Office said that care for premature babies was being
compromised by a shortage of nurses and overcrowded special units. It
said there were “significant shortages” of trained nurses - an average
of three whole-time nurses for each unit - and baby units are often
operating above capacity.
The Report also found that Units had to close their doors to new
admissions an average of once a week during 2006-07, mainly because of a
lack of nurses or cots. Only at the lowest level of care needed (special
care) was the British Association of Perinatal Medicine (BAPM) guideline
ratio of one nurse to every four babies being met. Only half of units
had the right staff-to-baby ratio for high-dependency care (one nurse to
two babies) and less than a quarter had the correct ratios for intensive
care (one nurse to one baby). Furthermore, a third of units were
operating above the 70 per cent capacity recommended as a guideline by
the BAPM, and three units were operating above 100 per cent capacity,
meaning that there were more babies in cots than trained staff to care
for them.
With 70,000 premature births each year, this is clearly a very worrying
picture and Conservatives are looking at ways we can change this should
we form the next Government. David Cameron has asked the Shadow Health
Secretary, Andrew Lansley, to look at ways to improve post-natal care in
Britain, such as extending midwifery support, with a special focus on
mothers following premature delivery or babies requiring considerable
medical support. It is clear that the Government’s rhetoric on neonatal
and maternity services is not being matched by reality and I can assure
you that the Shadow Health Team will continue to press the Government
over this important issue.
Thank you once again for taking the time to write to me.
Yours sincerely
Alan Duncan MP