It was a very scary thing to be admitted in hospital at 24 weeks. Doctors could not tell us what was going to happen nor control my so out of control blood pressure. It is shocking and certainly nothing like you expect pregnancy to be... but nothing can prepare you for the early birth of a premature baby.
I spent long weeks in hospital until one day, my doctor noticed our son`s heartbeat was very quiet and after some scans, they confirmed oxygen was not getting to the placenta. The c-section was scheduled for that same night. I do not remember how long it lasted, but I remember hearing this tiny cry. Alexander Luca was born at 28 weeks on 14th November 2007, weighing 734 grams. It was difficult to be happy, although we were, our happiness was clouded by uncertainty and fear as we didn`t know what was going to happen to Lexxi, would he be ok? was he going to make it? Nobody could tell us for sure. It was difficult as well because I was too poorly to see him right away, and had to spent 3 extra days in ICU before I was allowed to visit the neonatal unit.
Seeing your tiny baby hooked to many cables and monitors is something I will never be able to describe with words. But I can honestly say that despite of my world falling apart, he was the most beautiful thing, I had ever seen... cables and all. Micro nappies were to big for him, reaching up to his chest and he nested in a green towel, nurses explained to me this makes prem babies feel more secure as if they were still in the womb. For days, we sat next to his incubator and san lullabies or tell him stories, until finally, we were able to start kangaroo care a week after his birth.
Lexxi was tiny but strong and although his development was slow, it was steady. He transferred from Queen Charlotte`s in London to St. Peters in Woking to be closer to home and upon making further progress (at 4 weeks old he was taken of the CPAP) he was moved to Frimley Park Hospital. At this hospital, he started to be unwell and gradually get worse. Doctors and nurses tend to tell new mums they panic over nothing but I could see my little one having a difficult time. Upon a week at Frimley Park, he was back on CPAP and ten days later he was transferred to St. Georges hospital in London due to NEC on New years` eve. They thought he would neeed surgery, and as always, Doctors would be very cautious as to what they said to the parents. Lexxi was one of the lucky babies who are treated successfully with antibiotics and morphine but it was one of the most scariest months of my life. On the third week of January 2008, he was transferred to Royal Surrey COunty hospital, the closest hospital to us. Here we spent another 3 weeks, but on 6th February 2008 (his actual due date) we finally went home, together as a family.

Being home without the support of nurses and doctors is quite scary, you learn to rely on them and the monitors so much. But we managed just fine... although we knew we would have to take him to St. George`s in London two weeks later as he needed a double hernia surgery. The surgery and post-op went well and we were back home within 3 days.

And ever since, Alexander has gone from strength to strength, growing up to be a healthy and happy boy, loved by his family and anyone he meets. He is a charmer with the cutest smile! At 14 months (11 months corrected) he started taking his first steps and although he still cannot speak words at 14 months corrected, he babbles a LOT! so we are waiting for the first ones any time soon while chasing him around the house as he has now mastered the walking/crawling part of his development.

If you would like to see Alexander`s story, please visit:

Now, we are a family and live happily... but we wouldn`t be here without the help and hard work from the Doctors and nurses who looked after Alexander, despite of being overworked, tired and sometimes having little rest because there are too many babies born too sick or too soon and there are not enough trained neonatal nurses to look after them like they deserve. One to one care is essential for this tiny babies and we support Action Medical Research and Bliss` campaigns.

Our son, is live testament that with the right care and resources, tiny babies born too soon have better chances of survival. Thank you to all of you.

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