It was explained to us that Albert had what they call Infant Respiratory Distress Syndrome (IRDS). We were told it can be quite common with babies born before term and even more common in babies born via caesarean, as their lungs aren’t encouraged to clear the mucus in the lungs in the same way they are during a vaginal delivery. Albert was on oxygen, optiflow, a feeding tube which was for a glucose solution to help his blood sugars, antibiotics just in case there was any infection that hadn’t been detected yet and LOTS of monitors that tracked his breathing, pulse, heart rate etc. As I said previously, we knew he was in safe hands but it was so sad seeing him hooked up to so many monitors and with a cannula in his tiny hand. So so sad.

BUT, after only a few hours, he had made amazing progress, he was completely off of the oxygen, had already gone down two ‘levels’ of the optiflow (air) and had results back showing no infection. It was such wonderful news and the BEST news to receive before I went back down to the recovery ward for the night. 

Around 11pm – I had to stay on the ward so that I didn’t miss the midwives coming to do my obs following surgery – Luke headed back up to SCBU to see Albert once more before bedtime. Within a few minutes, Luke phoned to say that the paediatric doctor was doing his rounds and, because Albert was very unsettled, wondered if we would mind him being given a dummy (pacifier for all my US friends!) to see if that helped him. We of course didn’t mind but before trying the pacifier, Luke put his little finger in Albie’s mouth and he started sucking so strongly that the doctor said, “I’m happy to take him off of the optiflow aid for 10 minutes, go and get his mum and let’s see what his latch is like.’ Luke came straight down to get me and took me right to him. Firstly, the main reason this was so exciting because I was about to hold my baby properly for the first time and have skin to skin with him! The best feeling!! He latched straight away and began feeding so so well. It was so encouraging and the greatest feeling in the world to be holding our boy! I was told I couldn’t nurse him exclusively – they say babies in special care need complete rest when they’ve had respiratory difficulties, and feeding can get them too excited haha! So, for the next 30 hours he had my colostrum and formula feeds via the feeding tube and by the end of his second day, he surprised everyone and was exclusively breast-feeding which they said was very unusual for such a tiny and poorly baby. 

From this point on, he continued to show incredible strength and improved quicker than they anticipated he would do. Each day was a true testimony of how good God is. We’re so thankful. 

The next day, I was discharged from postnatal care, so Luke and I moved up to our own room up on SCBU so we could be nearer to the unit Albie was on. it felt so good to be closer to him. For the next few days, we spent our hours snuggling him. Even though we were in a hospital and there were some really hard time, it was the greatest few days we spent together – no house work, strict visiting hours so literally, LOADS of time together with some of our family bringing us yummy food and coffees every day! 🙂 

By day 5, they were so thrilled with Albert’s progress that they were happy to send us home. When your little one has been on special care, before they send you home, you are put in a ‘rooming in’ room for two nights. This is purely for the parent’s benefit, to ease any anxieties that we may have after your baby had spent time in SCBU. The first night they kept Albert on his sleep apnoea machine – a machine that basically monitors each breath Albie takes and sounds an alarm if he hadn’t taken a breath after 20 seconds (this can actually be very common in babies as their breathing can fluctuate in those first few new born days and more so after any initial respiratory issues). The first night, as you can imagine, we were relaxed because we knew we’d hear an alarm and soon know if anything was wrong. The second night however, was a bit different as we had to have an evening without the monitor on him. We were increasingly more anxious and didn’t sleep as well that night so we could keep looking into the crib to check he was breathing. BUT, we did it, we got through the night and it felt amazing in the morning to know that we had ‘passed’ the two nights rooming in and now, WE WE’RE GOING HOME and our next adventure was about to unfold. 

We packed our room up, said our goodbyes, had a good cry as we thanked all the staff as they said their goodbyes to Albert, who they had all totally fallen in love with(!!), packed the car, drove to get coffees from our favourite spot in Chichester and headed home. It.Was.Magical and everything we had dreamt it would be. 

April 25th 2019. A day that has changed our lives forever. A day that we became parents for the second time. A day we became parents to a son and a day that, amidst the unforeseen moments, saw the beginning of redemption for us and our families.

I’m so excited to share our parenthood with you all!

All my love,

Claire xo