A baby born at 29-weeks "would not be here today" if it wasn't for the "incredible" staff at a Liverpool hospital.
Nicola Durant was at home when she suffered a placental abruption, meaning the placenta separated from the wall of her uterus before birth. After calling her husband Peter in a "panic", they rushed to the Liverpool Women's Hospital as Noah "spontaneously turned up".
Peter said it was a "torturous birth" back in May 2021 as the couple were panicking due to him being so early. However, thanks to the quick-thinking staff and everyone involved at the hospital, Noah was born "in good health" before being placed in the newborn intensive care unit (NICU) for six weeks.
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Peter told the ECHO: "For those six weeks we saw different staff members and everyone was fantastic. We received brilliant care and everyone was really kind. We were in the best place for it to happen and we are so thankful.
"I was at the shop when I got a call from my wife in a panicked state. I couldn't go in the ambulance which was awful but I followed behind. We lived in Cressington so really weren't far.
"When he was born I got to have a hold of him before he was put in an incubator and taken down to NICU but everyone was so supportive. It was quite a stressful time but obviously he was in the right place."
Now, Noah is a thriving young boy who is "doing really well", but still receives support from hospital staff. In a bid to give something back to thank those for saving their son's life, Peter decided to complete the Liverpool Chester Liverpool cycle earlier this month.
He said: "While we were there I said I wanted to raise money for the unit and my friend was having a similar experience and was doing the cycle for Alder Hey so I decided to do it with him. I was so pleased with how it all went. Everyone is so generous and you don't realise what people are going through until you open up those conversations."
Peter added: "It's such a comfort for us to still be supported by the hospital, he's such a bouncing boy. We are so grateful, he wouldn't be here if it wasn't for them and that's the most important thing. They also really supported Nicola, providing links to different care, it went well beyond treatment.
"The main advice we give is don't compare to other kids, everyone is different and development is different. It does help talking to other parents in the unit but it puts things into perspective. There are a lot of upsetting stories and experiences there.
"Noah did everything in his own time, it's not like the textbooks. Care has come on so much as well so when something like this happens, babies do survive. This is one of the top places in Europe for that care and they are still trying to raise money."
Peter's fundraising page reads: "Our son Noah was born 11 weeks early last May and spent the first six weeks of his life in the NICU unit. The care he received was excellent and we will be eternally grateful to all the staff we encountered. If not for their skill and dedication, Noah would not be with us. Thankfully, he is a beautifully crazy one year old who is growing up so quickly. He certainly keeps us on our toes, and we wouldn’t want it any other way!"
According to the NHS, placental abruption is a serious condition which can cause stomach pain, bleeding from the vagina and frequent contractions. If you're near your due date, the baby will need to be born straight away and a caesarean section may be recommended. But if the baby's very premature and the abruption is minor, you may be kept in hospital for close observation.
Anyone wishing to donate can do so by clicking here, or visit the Liverpool Women's Hospital website.
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