In March 2013 Sarah and David Blaney were looking forward to meeting their first child, a girl, due in July.
But at 23 weeks Sarah went into labour and baby Holly was born weighing just 640g- slightly bigger than a block of butter.
When baby Holly arrived after only 23 weeks’ gestation, time slowed and every milestone was treasured.
One millilitre of milk for feeding turns into two, then three, and so on. Incremental weight gains are successes, so is being able to wipe your baby’s eyes, change its nappy, and then – incredibly – have the first cuddle.
“It’s a big rollercoaster,” Sarah Blaney says. “The hardest part is when they are little, they talk about long term being a few hours. Your friends and family are saying, ‘will she survive?’ (But) you have to take it hour by hour.”
To other parents, the Blaneys say: Take it one day at a time.
“You can’t get too wound up about things because it’s a long road. It’s days and weeks and months and you can’t freak out every day. You have to pace yourself through it.”
*******************************************
Read the full article on the NZ Herald website here.
Mum Sarah also shared details the journey in her own words earlier this year. Read this here
*******************************************
