WHEN Stacey Hunt, who was in a high risk pregnancy with a very immature precious baby, found that her waters had broken at 31 weeks, there was a high possibility of labour commencing as the liquid drained away (Pregnant mum miles from home after nightmare, Herald January 7).
Babies this immature do struggle hard to survive even with all the specialist care now available.
Read Stacey Hunt's baby dash story here.So, with the bad weather etc. threatening, she was sent off to a specialist unit at Winchester, where she would have been given drugs to stop any uterine contractions, and the hole in the bag of waters had a chance to seal itself off.
Then, only after two days, were they able to tell her that she was not in labour.
What a relief that would have been to the medical staff.
This outcome gives the baby more valuable time in the womb where he/she will be able to grow and mature in safety.
We do feel especially sorry for all the trauma and upset Stacey has endured.
She may well feel she has not had a very nice Christmas present.
But her baby most certainly has, and would thank God and not blame Worthing Hospital.
Dr Richard Callaghan
Retired Worthing GPNOTE: All letters must include a name and address.
Write in to Readers' Letters, Worthing Herald series, Cannon House, Chatsworth Road, Worthing, BN11 1NA, or email the Herald.
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