Joy for parents as 23 week baby home from hospital

Parents have shared their joy at welcoming home their baby who was born at just 23 weeks.

Born before the abortion limit, Millie Bushell, who weighed 1lb 7oz, initially struggled with her breathing, had to fight off numerous infections and underwent a heart operation during her 15-week stay.

Mum Tiffany and dad Matthew feared their daughter wouldn’t survive, but are overjoyed to have taken her home after almost four months in hospital.

Thankful

Tiffany said: “We’re so relieved that she is at home and it makes us realise how far she has come.”

She added: “I want to say she’s breezed through it. She hasn’t, it’s been hard but she’s come out the other side and is so strong.”

Matthew commented: “We’re over the moon that she’s back. It’s like being on cloud nine.”

He praised hospital staff for their care and concluded: “We’re just so thankful to be finally back at home all together, safe.”

Survivors

In June, another baby born at 23 weeks and given only a three per cent chance of survival astounded doctors by beating the odds.

Weighing just 1lb 3oz at birth, Oliver-Cash Lowther-Ryan battled sepsis, had an inch of his bowel removed and survived two operations on his heart valve.

A month earlier, a baby who was expected to die after being born at just 22 weeks and two days similarly survived and was discharged from hospital.

In the UK, it is legal to have an abortion for most reasons up to 24 weeks, or up to birth when the unborn child is thought to have a disability.