A TINY Queensland baby girl born more than four months early received extra Easter cuddles in hospital, with parents Melanie Hegarty and Daniel Reid by her side.
Baby Sol was born at 23 weeks gestation at Mater Mothers’ Hospital in South Brisbane on March 12, weighing 700g – an unexpected and early arrival for the Sunnybank couple.
Ms Hegarty, 32, and partner Daniel Reid, 28, are juggling their time between Sol’s cot side and their home at Sunnybank Hills where they live with their three other children, Cruze, Ocean and Oakleigh.
Ms Hegarty’s son Cruze was also born premature at 28 weeks, and knew “there was no stopping Sol” when her waters broke at 22 weeks gestation.
“Sol was due in July but she arrived early. She is definitely our little miracle. Although our journey at Mater Mothers’ Hospital NICU(Neonatal Intensive Care Unit) has just started, we already feel so supported by the whole team here,” Ms Hegarty, a veterinary nurse, said.
“Sol is so teeny that it’s scary some days. We never know what the day will bring, but we trust the amazing team to look after our little girl.”
Mater Mothers’ Hospital has one of Australia’s largest Neonatal Critical Care Units, providing compassionate and family centered care to around 2000 seriously ill and premature babies every year.
Mater Director of Neonatology Dr Pita Birch said babies who receive neonatal intensive care at 23 weeks gestation have a 50 per cent chance of survival.
Last year, 1825 babies received care in the NICU at Mater Mothers’ Hospital, with 18 of those babies born before 25 weeks gestation.
Ms Hegarty said Sol had a world-leading team of doctors, nurses, midwives and allied health clinicians ‘on her team’ and was receiving around-the-clock care.
“She’s had her fair share of issues. Her little lungs are still growing which means her oxygen levels are always changing. Add that to blood transfusions, kidney issues, high sugar levels, a lung infection, and brain bleeds. The list goes on,” she said.”
“But for now, she is doing well.”
