Alyssa Emily Jacobs
Alyssa was 2lb 3oz when she was born on the 2nd July 2002 at 5.03pm
(29 weeks)
I gave birth 2nd July 2002, gestation 29 weeks 4 days, by emergency c-section because I had severe pre-eclampsia. She weighed 2lb 3oz.
Alyssa was taken away from me at birth for 1 week to be checked at Great Ormond Street but the operation they thought she needed was not in fact needed and was returned to Barnet General Hospital. She had a 2 enamea thorax's which are fatal and infact nearly died at birth and we were told she would not survive. She was ventilated for the first 12 days and then went on to CPAP. She is out of intensive care and in special care now and off CPAP and in air not needing oxygen. She now weighs 2lb 6oz after losing weight in the first 2 weeks. She is a complete miracle.
It has been the most stressful time of my life but also the most wonderful as I still have my little girl. We are told to look towards my due date (14 September) to take her home.
I'm told she'll be home in 4 weeks and she's now taking a bottle!! (July 2002)
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By the end of August (37 weeks) amazingly Alyssa was out of hospital and weighing 3lb 13oz and after just one week at being at home has gone from 3lb 13oz to 4lb 9oz!!!!!!
At 20 weeks Alyssa weighs 8lb 12oz. She holds herself fantastically and I'm told she's way ahead of her 9 weeks corrected age. She smiles and talks non-stop!!! She is amazing!! (Nov 2002)
"She is 25 weeks, 13 weeks corrected, and weighs nearly 10lb. We had her 6 month check up and the hospital say she is 100% normal baby" (December 2002)
written with the permission of Alyssa's mother Julia