The neonatal unit was the last place Danielle Keith hoped she would end up when she learned she was pregnant.
But, with partner Christopher Johnstone, she found herself requiring its support twice in the space of two years.
One of these visits resulted in a heart-breaking loss, but Danielle is full of praise for all the staff who cared for her.
“I owe them everything for what they did for my girls,” she said.
‘They taught me how to care for my tiny baby’
In September 2020, the couple were taken to hospital after their daughter Caiti was born at 30 weeks.
Danielle had suffered a preterm premature rupture of membrane (PPROM) where, essentially, her waters had broken early.
“It was so difficult to comprehend everything that was going on,” she recalled.
“My emotions were everywhere, but the doctors and nurses were so very understanding.”
During her time in the neonatal unit, Danielle found herself “obsessing” over Caiti’s stats.
But she was given endless support from the staff on hand.
She said: “I think the nurses could sense my apprehension and worry because they would always come over and talk to me about what all the noises were and how she was going to be okay.
“The nurses taught me how to look after my tiny baby – although she was not my first child, she was the smallest at the time as she was in an incubator.”
Danielle and Christopher spent four weeks in the neonatal unit before they were able to take Caiti back home to siblings Jayden and Kyan.
It wasn’t long before they knew life was about to change once more.
Just four months later, they couple received the news they were going to welcome twins into the world.
An early labour and heart-breaking loss
But on May 31 2021, Danielle’s waters broke at 18 weeks.
She was rushed to Aberdeen Maternity Hospital, and knew she would again be spending time in the neonatal unit.
“It was just a case of trying to do everything we could do to delay labour,” she said.
“The doctors hoped I would get to 34 weeks but that wasn’t to be.”
Twins Evie and Ivie-Blair were delivered via C-section on 19 July – 15 weeks early, and weighing just 1lb 12oz and 1lb 10z.
While Danielle was in recovery, she received a call from the neonatal unit warning her Ivie-Blair wasn’t doing so well.
The couple were urged to make a visit as soon as possible.
“Christopher went rushing down as I was unable to move from having the C-section,” Danielle said.
“After three hours of doing everything they could for our little girl, we were given the heart-breaking news that there was no more they could do.
“Ivie-Blair passed away in my arms not long after I arrived at her incubator.
“You could tell the doctors and nurses cared so much about the babies they look after.
“They seemed just as heartbroken as us when Ivie-Blair passed.”
‘Angel’ nurses and children’s charity support
Little Evie spent 12 weeks in the Aberdeen neonatal unit before she was well enough to head home.
And charity The Archie Foundation offered bereavement support for Jayden and Kyan, also sending the family books to help them find the words to describe their feelings.
Danielle said: “It was so surreal spending every day in the unit again, but again the nurses were absolute angels, keeping us updated through calls and photos.
“They helped us cope with the loss of Ivie-Blair and helped us to care for our teeny tiny bundle, Evie.”
The Archie Foundation provides counselling for all parents and staff within the neonatal unit, and funds life-saving equipment including incubators and ventilators.
It also offers staff training, emergency funding, breast pumps and kangaroo tops, among other items.
‘They weren’t just nurses – they were a second family’
Danielle remembers how the nurses in the unit were always available to chat through worries, or offer a shoulder to cry on.
“The nurses were so much more than nurses, they were a second family,” she said.
“Like aunts and uncles to your babies – looking out for them when you aren’t there.
“If they had time, they would read stories to Evie and sing her songs.”
Danielle added: “Without the neonatal unit and its incredible staff, my two surviving daughters wouldn’t be here and Ivie-Blair wouldn’t have gotten the chance she did.
“I owe them everything for what they did for my girls.
“I want to thank everyone there, the doctors, nurses, reception staff and cleaners, they all make up such an important team to keep our premature and ill babies safe and well.”
New hospital to make even larger difference
A replacement for the 84-year-old maternity hospital is due to open in Aberdeen in March 2024, and the Archie Foundation has committed to raising £2 million towards it.
Health bosses say the Baird Family Hospital – with adjoining Anchor cancer centre – will offer a “world-class” experience, with hotel-style rooms and en-suite bathrooms as standard.
Danielle said: “The staff in the new Baird Family Hospital will be just as amazing and caring, but I feel the facilities themselves will have a more calm and homely environment.
“The new neonatal unit will be such a big improvement as it looks so much more spacious for your family to be able to go in and be together, whereas the unit now is quite a cramped setting with incubators almost side by side.
“Both times I’ve been in the unit they have always been at full capacity so it can be a busy environment.
“But it’s not all bad as you get to know the other parents in the room and it’s nice to be able to talk to someone who is going through a similar experience as yourself.
“Getting the right balance of that would be amazing.”
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