Charlie was born at just 23 weeks – almost the earliest a baby can be kept alive. His eyes haven’t opened yet and his lungs are only half grown. For his parents it’s an emotional rollercoaster, but despite the odds, Charlie proves to be a fighter. A family with premature twins finally gets to bring their son home after six months in the unit, and rhesus baby Parker undergoes a rare procedure to have all of his contaminated blood exchanged.
A long-standing staff member sees the unit from the other side when her twin grandsons are delivered by Caesarean section two months early, a family from Dumfries wait to be reunited and a first-time mum goes into labour at six months pregnant.
At University Hospital Wishaw, a team of highly specialist staff provide round-the-clock care to some of Scotland's most fragile babies. This series follows the stories of babies born prematurely at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic in Scotland. Some of these newborns are at the edge of life and we see the emotional journey their parents go on just to take them home.
At University Hospital Wishaw, a team of highly specialist staff provide round-the-clock care to some of Scotland's most fragile babies. This series follows the stories of babies born prematurely at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic in Scotland. Some of these newborns are at the edge of life, and we see the emotional journey their parents go on just to take them home.
Born at just 24 weeks, baby Michael is four months premature. His eyes are still fused shut and his lungs are only half grown. He is at the limit where babies can be born prematurely and still do well. For Michael and his mum and dad, it is a long road ahead as he learns to breathe without support. The unit celebrates World Prematurity Day, and the babies receive gifts from a local volunteer.
There is a new arrival in the unit's intensive care ward. Baby Roman is six weeks premature and struggling to breathe on his own. As the team focuses on getting Roman well enough for home, his mum Claire is encouraged to get involved in her baby's care. First-time mum Kirsty shares her experience of losing her baby Ava at just five days old and the support the unit offers for bereaved families.
