Ruby, 28 weeks

Miracle mum Leanne shares Ruby's story:

My waters broke at just shy of 29 weeks. Our daughter was born emergency csection due to footling breach at 28+5weeks.

I had the most average uneventful pregnancy so it was a complete shock. Its still a mystery why my waters broke. Out of all the scenario's I imagined could happen, this one had never entered my mind.

Then started 12 weeks of Ruby being in NICU. It was one of hardest and most exhausting experiences I have ever had, both emotional and physically.

We had breathing issues, gut issues, growth issues, heart murmur, breastfeeding issues due to an upper lip tie and later Ruby would be diagnosed with Noonan Syndrome.

All that before we took our baby home with a feeding tube in and still learning how to breastfeed.

Luckily, all the staff at the hospital had been amazing and thats where Megan started to visit us. Parents in the NICU are often passing ships in the night so it was so amazing to just talk to someone who had been through it. For me hearing that yes this is this exhausting & hard made me feel seen and that I wasn't weak for struggling. Hearing the stories brought me comfort and helped me be greatful. It was an unexpected support that I looked forward to every week.

It took me awhile to feel confident to attend mother groups/events but Megan always kept in touch.

I actually felt very overwhelmed looking at all the normal babies that were bigger than mine, hadn't had the same struggles or were more advanced. I was often on the edge of tears and trying to hold it together.

When I got to a Miricle Babies event it was a wave of relief. I felt like we belonged, it was a safe space full of joy & empathy. We have never looked back and I look forward to every event.

Ruby is flourishing and we both are finally doing really well but it took a good 16months to get to that point.

We are proud Miricle Babies supporters. You absolutely need to find your tribe in this arena and its hard when people just haven't been through it. You need kindred spirits- we even found a NICU room mate of Ruby's!

Thank you Miracle Babies and Megan ♥️