Latest News

2nd April 2012

Mum’s thanks to hospital staff for saving ‘miracle baby’

A WITHAM woman has praised the staff at Broomfield Hospital’s maternity unit after their swift action saved the life of her new-born child – dubbed ‘miracle baby’ by nurses.

Mum Louise Bearman was looking forward to watching The X Factor accompanied by a Chinese takeaway, but a few hours later she was involved in her own real-life drama.

Louise’s dramatic tale began when she became concerned by the lack of movement of her baby, with just five weeks to go until it was due. She went to Broomfield Hospital where she was examined and tests confirmed she was right to be concerned.

She underwent an emergency caesarean under general anaesthetic as there was no time for epidurals to take effect. “When I came round, I was told my baby’s condition was critical. I couldn’t take it all in – it seemed like it was happening to somebody else and I was watching the situation unfold. It was my first pregnancy and nothing had prepared me for this,” said Louise.

Baby Olivia’s problem was she had been born with a haemoglobin (the protein molecule in red blood cells) level of only three, when it should have been around 18. Within two hours of being born, she underwent an emergency blood transfusion. Within 48 hours, she underwent a further blood transfusion as her life hung in the balance.

Sharon Pilgrim, advanced neonatal nurse practitioner in attendance at the birth, said in 20 years in the job, she had never known such low haemoglobin levels. “It was a miracle she survived. She was incredibly pale when born and had difficulties breathing. There was no sign of blood loss prior to the caesarean or during the operation. It was only when we carried out further tests on Louise that we discovered the baby had lost blood directly into her mum’s blood circulation.”

Five months on, Olivia is in fine health with no long-term problems from the drama. Louise said she could not praise the hospital staff highly enough. “From the moment I arrived at the hospital, everything was dealt with swiftly and professionally. The staff were all brilliant and undoubtedly saved my baby’s life by their swift actions. They said another two hours and it would have been too late.”

ENDS

Media contacts : Ian Lucking tel: (01245) 516729 | Mobile : 07775 777947

Out of Hours Media Calls : 07775 777947