'Miracle' premature baby in Scotland born weighing 1lb finally discharged from hospital
Miracle baby Sofia was given a ten per cent chance of survival in labour after she was born at just 22 weeks in University Wishaw Hospital, Lanarkshire, on 2 October last year.
Due to being one of the youngest ever surviving premature baby in Scotland, Sofia had to remain in hospital until 10 February when she was finally strong enough to be discharged.
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Hide AdParents Egija and Inars Birina said the days spent in the maternity ward waiting for their baby, who measured only 26cm when she was born, to be discharged were “132 of the longest and scariest days of their lives.”
Egija, from Airdrie, said: “Sofia was the size of a hand, so fragile and small and her skin was see-through. I had to wait a week to hold her for the first time because she was so fragile.
“She was hooked up to lots of machines and she was ventilated for several weeks to help her breathe.
"The first time they tried to get her to breathe on her own, she only lasted twenty minutes then her heart rate dropped and I felt like I was losing her. I nearly fainted I was so scared.
"Once I was able to hold her, they couldn’t get her out of my hands.”
Sofia spent her first three months in an incubator with her mum and dad spending hours each day by her side.
Egija said the health issues her tiny baby overcame in her time spent in hospital was vast.
Sofia suffered from a heart defect, stage one brain bleeds, an eye disease, retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) and numerous infections.
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Hide AdShe also had seven blood transfusions and respiratory distress symptom as her lungs were not fully developed when she was born.
“I was at the hospital all the time,” Egija said, “some days as long as 16 hours, and my husband would come after work. I just didn’t want to leave her, especially on the many really tough days when we didn’t think Sofia would make it.
“We want to thank all the staff from maternity ward, newborn intensive care unit and special care baby unit at Wishaw and Glasgow Children’s Hospital. They have saved me and my little miracle. They have done so much for us and they will always be our family and forever in our hearts. We will miss them so much.”
Egija added: “Sofia has been doing great since we got home.
“She’s now four months old and I look at her and think she could still be in my tummy because of how small she is, even though she is now four times her birth weight.
“To all other mummies going into such an early labour, there is hope. Never give up.”
Cheryl Clark, NHS Lanarkshire chief midwife said: “Baby Sofia is such an inspiration and we are so happy she is now home with her family. On behalf of all the staff who have been involved in her care, I would like to wish Sofia and her parents all the best for their future together.”