 |
Macey MicklethwaiteA premature baby whose mother suffered from preeclampsia
Country:
 Great Britain |
Content:
- A Miracle Baby's Journey
- A Surprise Pregnancy and a Critical Diagnosis
- A Battle for Survival
- Racing Against Time
- "They told me she'd stopped growing at 23 weeks."
- A Journey of Hope
- "She was just perfect, breathing on her own. It was amazing."
- A Fighter's Spirit
- "It's amazing how resilient she is."
A Miraculous Tale of Survival: Born Premature After a Father's Near-Death Experience
A Miracle Baby's Journey
Macy Micklethwaite, a tiny infant born at a mere 19 ounces, defied all odds by clinging to life after a challenging pregnancy and a near-death experience for her father, Rhys. Just days after the legal abortion limit in the United Kingdom had passed, Macy emerged into the world at a gestational age of 25 weeks. Her birth marked the second miracle in the Micklethwaite family, after Rhys had miraculously survived a horrific motorcycle accident weeks earlier.
A Surprise Pregnancy and a Critical Diagnosis
Macy's mother, Karen Dawkins, was 33 years old when she discovered she was pregnant at 18 weeks. Over a month later, at 32 weeks, Karen was forced to deliver her baby 15 weeks premature. Doctors warned the parents that their daughter had a slim chance of survival.
"When Macy was born, she was the size of my palm," Karen recalled. "Looking at those first photos, she didn't even seem real. But all I could think was, 'Wow, what a little fighter.'"
Karen had initially visited the doctor at Christmas to confirm her pregnancy. Preoccupied with her husband's recovery from the motorcycle accident, she had missed the obvious signs of pregnancy.
"I went in not knowing and was told I was 18 weeks. It was amazing news," Karen said.
A Battle for Survival
Ultrasound scans at 20 and 22 weeks had shown no cause for concern, but a scan three weeks later revealed an alarming spike in Karen's blood pressure.
"The midwife called me in and said my blood pressure was through the roof. I had to be in hospital there and then," Karen said.
Karen was transferred to St. Michael's Hospital in Bristol, which specialized in high-risk pregnancies. Further tests diagnosed her with severe preeclampsia, a condition where the placenta malfunctions, depriving the fetus of oxygen and nutrients.
Racing Against Time
Karen's blood pressure remained dangerously high, making it increasingly difficult for her body to sustain Macy.
"I remember sitting in the hospital with Rhys, feeling fine. I thought they'd just send me home," Karen recalled.
"I had no idea the severity of it until I was transferred to St. Michael's. Then it hit me, and the tears came because I knew something wasn't right."
"They told me she'd stopped growing at 23 weeks."
Doctors initially delayed a cesarean section to improve Macy's chances of survival.
"The consultant told me they were trying to hold on and that each day they did bought Macy further away from the edge," Karen said.
"But there came a point where there was no more time. They had to get her out alive."
A Journey of Hope
Macy was born on February 20, 2016, via a successful cesarean section. While her mother recovered, Macy was transferred to the neonatal intensive care unit.
Karen was unable to visit her daughter for the first few days, relying on photographs of the tiny newborn.
"She was born the day after my birthday," Karen said. "It was such a happy day. To me, it was the best day of my life."
"She was just perfect, breathing on her own. It was amazing."
"But I was more unwell than I realized. My kidneys had stopped working. For the first two days of her life, I couldn't hold or cuddle her."
A Fighter's Spirit
Mother and daughter gradually recovered. Macy developed an infection and had feeding difficulties, but by the time she was five months old, she was finally able to go home.
Now eight months old, Macy weighs 3.85 pounds, slightly above the average weight of a full-term newborn.
"She is your average, normal baby," Karen said. "She's tiny, but she's catching up all the time. She's thriving and doing really well."
"It's amazing how resilient she is."
Preeclampsia: A Life-Threatening ConditionKaren and her family received support from the charity 'Cots for Tots,' which provides specialist equipment for premature babies and free accommodation for parents and siblings at St. Michael's Hospital.
Preeclampsia is a disorder affecting pregnant women, characterized by the destruction of red blood cells, low blood platelet counts, impaired liver function, impaired kidney function, fluid in the lungs, and vision problems.
It can lead to serious complications in pregnancy and increase both maternal and fetal risks. If left untreated, preeclampsia can lead to seizures and even death.
Currently, the only way to prevent fatal consequences of preeclampsia is by inducing premature birth, as it stops the placenta, the organ responsible for the condition, from releasing proteins.
Risk factors for preeclampsia include first-time pregnancy, diabetes, kidney disease, chronic high blood pressure, pregnancy over the age of 35, obesity, and abnormalities in the placenta.
