Baby Ruby wins fight for survival

May 26 2009 by Diane Parkes, Birmingham Mail

Part of the reason for this growth was Claire’s own commitment to breastfeeding. A premature baby needs the antibodies which it has not received by staying full term in the womb and cannot be fed on formula milk.

“They had explained it all to me when Lauren was born and how important it is for premature babies so I was ready for Ruby,” says Claire. “I was fortunate because I was able to express milk and had a very good supply from the beginning. They were then able to feed Ruby through a tube. She was only having really tiny amounts but regularly.

“They are so vulnerable when they are that tiny that every help you can give them is essential.”

And being able to feed her own baby also gave Claire a sense of actually doing something to help.

“It sounds strange but when you have a premature baby, everything is taken out of your hands. It is nobody’s fault but it is the way when everything is needed, all you can do is watch. And the one thing they said I could do to help my baby was feed her so you do actually feel you are able to do something.”

Six-and-a-half weeks after tiny Ruby was born she was able to latch on to the breast and feed herself.

“We were lucky because she had that sucking reflex which some premature babies don’t have,” adds Claire.

After 18 weeks in hospital baby Ruby was able to return to the family home in Monkspath, Solihull. But within days she was back in after catching an infection.

“That is the problem when they are premature, they are prone to infection,” says her mum.

But again Ruby pulled through. And the family have nothing but praise for the countless medical staff who helped them.

“The staff there really were exceptional,” says Claire. “In all things. They really supported us and they still keep in touch, wanting to know how Rubes, as they call her, is getting on.”

And Claire is a keen advocate of breastfeeding.

“I know that some mothers have difficulties with it and they shouldn’t beat themselves up about it.

‘‘But I really do believe it gives a baby the best chance. I was lucky because the staff were really supportive and helped me. I would say to any mum not to give up. It may take a while for the baby to get the idea but it is worth it.”

Ruby is now five and half months old and weighs more than 7lb – still small for her actual age but not so for the age she would have been had she gone full term.

She is bright, cheerful and alert – and, most important of all, continues to thrive.

“She is still monitored by doctors but she will gradually catch up,” says Claire. “Funnily enough when she starts school she will actually be in the same school year as if she had gone to full term and been born in the spring so everything will even out eventually.”

While Lauren is never forgotten, Ruby is clearly the light of her parents’ lives.

“We called her Ruby because she is precious,” says Claire. “And Hope speaks for itself.”