On Sunday 16th April (Easter Sunday) I was 26 weeks and 6 days pregnant and looking forward to a family tea party for my nieces 4th Birthday. I woke up feeling lower abdominal pain but I didn't think much of it as you are told some pains are normal in pregnancy. As the day went on these pains became stronger and more frequent and I started to realise something wasn't right so after some persuasion from my mum and sister the hospital (Cumberland Infirmary) were contacted and I was told to go immediately.

After being checked at the hospital and put on monitors I was told I had a 46% chance of delivering the baby within 2 weeks I was terrified and had no idea what to think. I was given tablets to try and stop the contractions and an injection to help mature the babies lungs incase they did come early. It was too late to do anything though things were happening so fast and before I knew it I was being wheeled into theatre for an emergency c section. Harper Elizabeth Beck was then delivered at 10.52pm and she weighed a tiny 2lb 6.5oz.

Harper was then rushed through to the Special Care Baby Unit where the doctors and nurses worked on her to get her ventilated and stable. The Cumberland Infirmary do not cater for babies under 32 weeks who require intensive care so she was transferred by a specialist team at 3am to the James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough. I was aloud to see Harper for the first time before she left, she was so tiny and beautiful but was soon whisked away from me again.

Myself and Andy (Dad) joined Harper that afternoon. It was extremely daunting as we didn't know what to expect. we felt so helpless our tiny baby lying in an incubator only being able to touch her through a tiny window it was heart breaking but we felt lucky she was alive. We soon realised the technology and expertise of the consultants, nurses and doctors were incredible.  It was an emotional rollercoaster but Harper made progress everyday. She spent 5 weeks in James Cook NICU where we were provided with accommodation so we could always be there for Harper. We were finally transferred back to Carlisle Special Care Baby unit on 23rd May where we spent another 4 weeks. We are so very grateful to every single person that have helped Harper on this journey. We finally got to bring Harper home on 21st June weighing 6lb 6.5oz she is still on oxygen but doing really well we are very proud of her. We are enjoying leading a normal life now as a family. We want to thank all our family and friends who have supported us on this journey.

I would like to raise awareness Premature birth mine was spontaneous and I had no idea this could happen without reason but I met so many other families in James Cook on very similar journeys and I found comfort from talking to others. In the UK 60,000 babies are born prematurely each year. I want to urge pregnant woman to follow their instincts and if you feel anything that you don't feel is normal to contact your midwife or hospital immediately.

I would now like to raise as much money as I can for James Cook's Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and Carlisle Special Care Baby unit as my way of saying thank you. I want to be able to help other babies like Harper and I know that these units will put the money to great use to fund new equipment or additional extras that the NHS don't fund. Harper would not be with me today if it wasn't for the hard work of all the nurses, doctor  and  consultants and the incredible equipment and machines that they use.

I have designed and made Prematurity Awareness Ribbons and wish string bracelets which I will be selling during November to help raise my target and I am also hosting ’Harpers Little Lights Walk’ for more information on these please message me or see link below for details of the walk.

https://www.facebook.com/events/501607533536085/?ti=icl

I would like to thank you all in advance for your support.

http://www.newsandstar.co.uk/news/Baby-born-13-weeks-early-finally-comes-home-32a56c7f-136a-4067-9ddd-26c47f63b4ed-ds