Miracle mum Narissa shares Eleanor’s story:

Eleanor’s arrival didn’t follow the plan we imagined.

She came into the world earlier than expected at 32 weeks and 3 days. Weighing 1.7kg and 40cm long.

My waters broke unexpectedly early morning on the 30th of July 2025. Not long after realising this, I began the bleed heavily. I knew something wasn't right. We rushed to the hospital where I was taken into labour and delivery immediately.

Contractions had already begun, so the team started steroid injections to help mature Eleanor’s lungs, along with medication to try and stop the labour. It was then that the doctors gave me the news no expectant mother wants to hear, I had a placental abruption along with preeclampsia.

By the morning of 1st of August, the bleeding had not stopped. A team of doctors came in and explained the reality we were facing, continuing the pregnancy was now too dangerous. An emergency C-section was booked for 2:30 pm. At 3:27 pm, our beautiful baby girl, Eleanor, entered the world. The doctors later told me they had found blood clots behind my placenta, which was also severely bruised, and they had also removed a complex ovarian cyst during the surgery.

Eleanor spent 3 weeks in the SCN, we spent every single day, by her side. Aching to bring her home. We were able to do skin to skin for 4 hours a day, which was truly magical.

We are sharing our story to raise awareness and offer hope, and honour the incredible work of the medical teams who care for premature babies and their families every day.

Eleanor is now 5 months old, weighing 5.6kg and thriving everyday! It’s so amazing to see how far she has come since those long and hard days in the SCN. 💜