When Plans Change: Isla’s Full-Term NICU Journey

As told by parents Hayley & Mike.

In May this year, we welcomed our beautiful daughter, Isla.

I had an easy-going pregnancy and no reason to think her birth would be any different. At 41+3 weeks, Isla was born at Queen Mary Hospital in Dunedin. It was a long and difficult labour — over 72 hours from induction to an emergency forceps delivery.

It was immediately obvious that Isla wasn’t well: she was screaming, had a high temperature, poor Apgar scores and likely meconium aspiration. She was almost immediately taken downstairs to the NICU team at Dunedin Hospital. On her second day in the NICU, Isla started having seizures. She was being treated for all possible causes, such as a bacterial or viral infection like meningitis or sepsis, while the team worked to uncover what was causing her symptoms.

A head ultrasound and MRI later that week confirmed that Isla had suffered a stroke and a brain bleed, likely during birth or shortly before or after. We spent ten days in our NICU bubble, surrounded by an incredible team of nurses, doctors, specialists, support staff, midwives, and friends and family before heading home in early June as a new family of three.

It was a scary and overwhelming start to our baby’s life that no parent ever wants to experience. You lose those most precious first moments, days, and weeks with your new baby in the most difficult way — but you are in the best place you can be, receiving the best care possible.

Five months later, you’d never know the difficult start Isla had — she’s a thriving, giggly wee girl who is loving life and meeting all her milestones. We continue to be supported by the Vera Hayward programme and NICU outreach as Isla grows and develops through her childhood. This is not only amazing for Isla but also a huge reassurance for us as first-time parents.

We can’t thank everyone enough for their support and, most of all, their care and love for Isla.