Mum says big 'thank you' to care unit (From Wiltshire Times)

Mum says big 'thank you' to care unit

1:00pm Saturday 25th July 2009

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Mum Catherine Sharples has thanked the neonatal intensive care unit in Bath after staff there nursed her premature daughter Emily to full health.

Mrs Sharples, 36, of Dicketts Road, Corsham, had thought her second pregnancy would be plain-sailing but developed pre-eclampsia at 31 weeks, which forced her to have an emergency caesarean at 33 weeks.

During her first pregnancy when she was carrying her daughter Alice, now two, Mrs Sharples developed pre-eclampsia at 38 weeks.

She said: “After giving birth to Alice I was told that if you are going to get pre-eclampsia again in your next pregnancy it will be later on and a milder form.

“Because I was 38 weeks when I developed it the first time, I didn’t think I had anything to worry about, especially as I had felt fine during my second pregnancy whereas I suffered from all of the typical symptoms the first time.”

She had been checking her blood pressure through her second pregnancy and noticed it rise at 31 weeks, confirming that she had the life-threatening condition.

She said: “I went into the Royal United Hospital in Bath for three days at 31 weeks and then went home for a week as I improved before being re-admitted.

“I stayed in the hospital for eight days while they monitored my blood pressure and it suddenly got worse and I was told it was putting my body in danger. I didn’t think about my body I just wondered whether my baby was going to be okay.”

She was taken to theatre for the caesarean section on June 17 and Emily was born weighing 3lb 13oz.

The former estate agent said: “The Caesarean went well and I was just so relieved when I found out that Emily was okay. Then I started to think what could have happened – I could have lost her.”

Emily was cared for on the NICU unit for 19 days and Mrs Sharples is full of praise for the care of the staff, especially as they are working in hot and cramped conditions.

Emily is now home with Mrs Sharples and her husband Mark, also 36.

“Emily is doing very well now. She weighs 4lb 4oz and is like a dainty little parcel.

“I think I’m going to bake a cake for the staff at the unit for being so kind to both me and Emily and I would be happy to donate to the Space to Grow appeal in the future.”

*Work will start in October on the new neonatal intensive care unit at the RUH in Bath thanks to a £3.1m NHS grant.

The Forever Friends Appeal’s Space To Grow campaign was launched two years ago. Now the £3.1m grant will enable a new, larger, sustainable neonatal intensive care unit to be built years ahead of schedule.

The Forever Friends Appeal says it still needs to raise another £1.5m to reach its £6.1m target.

NICU matron Debbie Grant said: “Coping with very sick newborns requires focus. We are dealing with parents who are deeply traumatised, and more space for them will make a huge difference to our ability to offer them the dignity and privacy they deserve.

“Lack of space for everything is a big issue, be it for medical or emotional support.”

Chairman of The Forever Friends Appeal John Cullum, father of jazz singer Jamie, said: “We are delighted and very excited at the news of additional NHS funding, as it will now match the fundraising efforts of the public and other donors to the campaign.”

While the appeal is waiting for planning permission to be granted over the summer, it is intending to increase its efforts to ensure all the funds are in place so the building can open in early 2011.

The new unit will be one-and-a-half times the size of the current one and will be built alongside the existing building, which will be turned into staff headquarters and four en-suite family rooms. Although the new unit will accommodate the same number of babies, up to 21, each of the babies’ rooms will increase in size, to allow parents enough personal space with the newborns.

To donate money to the appeal, call 01225 825691 or email forever.friends@ruh.nhs.uk

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