Milla, 26 weeks

Miracle mum Emily shares Milla 's story:

Milla was born via emergency caesarean in the setting of a complicated pregnancy including maternal HELLP syndrome, reversed flow in cord/uteroplacental insufficiency, and extreme growth restriction. She was born at 26+1 weeks gestation, weighing 497 grams. At birth Milla was provided with supplementary oxygen with APGAR scores of three at one minute, six at five-minutes, and seven at 10-minutes. Once stable she was transferred to the NPICU for management of prematurity and associated issues. Milla's perinatal course was complicated by chronic lung disease with cystic changes, respiratory distress syndrome, and a pulmonary haemorrhage, requiring a period of intubation and medical intervention for ventilator-associated pneumonia. She was found to have a large patent ductus arteriosus that resolved with medical intervention and bilateral stage I retinopathy of prematurity. She was additionally treated for anaemia, jaundice, hyponatremia, metabolic bone disease of prematurity, sepsis, and osteopenia of prematurity. Her cranial ultrasounds were unremarkable, and she passed her hearing checks. Milla remained in NPICU for 109 days before transferring home with her parents. She has not had any further hospitalisations since discharge.

Milla is now turning 6 next month, and is a happy bubbly girl. Attending prep She is doing wonderful considering her beginning into life, with a mild global development delay and tracking on the littler side. She brings so much joy, determination and strength into life.