A miracle baby is now a thriving picture of health after being born a staggering 16 weeks early – weighing the same as a loaf of BREAD.
Tiny Peyton Keir was fighting for her life when she was born at 24 weeks, weighing just 800g, as she sought sanctuary in a ‘sandwich bag’ to protect her skin during the first hours of her life.
But now nine-months-old, the little bundle of joy has beaten the terrifying odds – that only 60% of babies born at 24 weeks survive past the first month.
Her doting parents Becky and Steven Keir spent 121 days at the Jessop Wing maternity unit in Sheffield, South Yorks., as little Peyton improved day-by-day, week by week.
The determined couple had tried for seven years to conceive and the tot was already a miracle in the making when Becky became pregnant with her first cycle of IVF.
Speaking of their ordeal, mum Becky, 27, said: “I just couldn’t believe how small she was – but she was beautiful.
“She was so delicate and tiny but then my little girl was placed into a sandwich bag to protect her skin.
“She only weighed 811 grams and she gave out such a cute yawn when she was born – but then the nurses and doctors rushed her off to save her.
“I was heartbroken, angry at myself and guilty for not being able to keep my baby safe for a few more weeks.
“I was just so terrified that my baby, who has taken seven longyears to get here, might not make it.”
Becky and hubby Steve, 29, had tried for seven years to conceive naturally, but turned to IVF and had everything planned together on their baby journey.
Becky had been injecting hormones into her body during that time, but turned to the IVF procedure which took on their first cycle on February 4, 2016.
Despite being due on October 22, Becky was horrified to be bleeding twenty four weeks into her term and gave birth to baby Peyton in July.
However, despite being premature Peyton is in the top 50 per cent of babies for her premature age.
Speaking about the early birth, Becky, from Sheffield, South Yorks., said: “During my pregnancy I did everything by the book and all the scans were normal.
“But then my blood pressure became dangerously high and I was rushed to the Jessop Wing and after examination I was found to be two centimetres dilated.
“I was given two steroid injections to mature my baby’s lungs – and was then prepared for what could happen.
“Within seconds of the birth, a team of doctors and nurses rushed in and put Peyton onto the resuscitaire, before she was taken to NICU.
“I was warned that sixty per cent of babies born at 24 weeks only survive past the first month.
“But now Peyton is nine months and doing really well and I’ve been told that development-wise she is within the top fifty percent of babies for her age.
“They say she might have problems when she is older, but that might just be bad at maths or spelling.
“She could suffer from Cerebral Palsy, but so far there have been no signs of that – so we are both over the moon on how well she is doing.”
Around 8,000 babies are born each year at the Jessop Wing – which includes caring for 900 critically ill and premature babies in one of the largest Neonatal Intensive Care Units in the country.
Becky has said she is now raising money for the wing in a bid to give something back in thanks for the care the couple and Peyton received.
She added: “The care we received at NICU was out of this world and we were kept informed of everything during the 121 days she was there.”
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My daughters adorn at 24 weeks and I had no idea I was even pregnant. She is healthy as can be and never had one complication. She just turned 2 and is so smart !!!! Good luck with yours
Sorry that was supposed to say “my daughter was born at 24weeks”