When I was told, in December 2020 that my son would have to be delivered 16 weeks early in order to save his life I did not know what to expect of having a premature baby.

In the time that has passed since that day I've learnt so many things: how it feels to stare at your baby through a small plastic box for every hour of the day and then to leave them at hospital every night to go home, the crushing guilt from feeling like you have failed the most important person in your world, the fear when the doctors say they are taking things hour by hour, that the journey doesn't end on discharge as Post Traumatic Stress, hospital appointments and fear of every little cough and cold carry on into the future.

Mostly though I have learnt that there are amazing doctors and nurses in neonatal units, like the one at Watford General that saved my son, performing miracles every day. They save babies that have spent little more than half the time they should have in the womb and support parents through their terrifying journey. These units do wonderful things with the funding they have but are always looking to do more to make their babies and parents more comfortable.


Thank you.