Premature baby who weighed 410g has first birthday
A mum who gave birth four months early is writing a book to give others hope.
Naomi Southern-Augustine, from Peterborough, gave birth to Wren at Luton and Dunstable Hospital when she was just 22 weeks pregnant.
Wren was the smallest baby the neonatal intensive care unit had ever seen and her chances of survival were low.
She survived and for her first birthday her family said they wanted to give back to the unit that saved Wren's life.
Ms Southern-Augustine phoned the hospital 22 weeks into her pregnancy after experienced having more mucus than usual.
She feared going to hospital would be "a waste of NHS time" but did not leave for another eight weeks.
"I didn't know you could go into labour that early. We didn't know what to expect, we were shocked," she said.
"It was a difficult time - there wasn't much hope and we were told to prepare ourselves as she was unlikely to survive but she did."
'Week of hell'
Wren weighed 14oz (410g) and spent 131 days in the neonatal units of Luton and Dunstable Hospital and Peterborough City Hospital.
She "sailed" through her first two weeks but then deteriorated and conversations about withdrawing treatment began.
When she was 17 weeks old, the family faced saying a heartbreaking final goodbye because Wren "was just too little" despite everything that had been done.
"That was a whole week of hell. The worst experience of our life," said Ms Southern-Augustine.
"That was also the first day we got to hold her… I thought if she is going to die, for half her life I haven't touched her.
"I will never be ready to say goodbye. I could feel the time getting closer... then she started making good noises on the machines and having cuddles with her dad."
Wren's dad, Rob McDonagh, said she was the size of his hand when she was been born.
He said: "Looking at her now compared to photos, it is like a different baby. She has come through a lot and been a fighter since day one."
Ms Southern-Augustine said she hoped the book she was writing could help others and added that their experience was "isolating so we wanted to share out story to give hope".
"By all accounts she [Wren] shouldn't have survived, but she did," she said.
"She exceeded all expectation. She is the happiest smiley baby. We are so lucky, and I couldn't be prouder."
For Wren's first birthday, the family visited the unit to thank those who saved her life.
Consultant Dr Jennifer Birch said: "It's wonderful and lovely when we say 'our baby's grown up and doing well'. It really makes all the care we provide feel worthwhile and it is really rewarding to see her [Wren] so well and alert."
While at the unit, the couple spoke with Briony Clewis, from Dunstable, who gave birth to her daughter 16 weeks early.
She said that having them talk about their experiences had helped her understand what it was like to have a premature baby.
"It was one of the most traumatising things I have ever been through," said Ms Clewis. "I don't remember anything from my birth, I have blocked it out.
"It is difficult - the journey has had ups and downs but having them tell me their experiences is reassuring and helps me understand."
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