A mum is hailing her Christmas miracle baby who was born alive – after she was told he had died in the womb.
Hannah Cole, 27, was admitted to the Bradford Royal Infirmary (BRI) after her waters broke at 20 weeks.
She was told by doctors the following day her unborn baby had died after they couldn’t detect a heartbeat and she was booked in to be induced.
But Hannah she said she could feel in her gut her son was still alive and asked hospital staff for a second scan and a heartbeat was found.
Little Oakley Cole-Fowler was born prematurely at just 24 weeks and three days on October 30 – weighing just 780 grams.
Hospital bossed have apologised for ‘the distress and anxiety caused’ to the family.
Hannah, from Wibsey, West Yorkshire, described Oakley as a ‘little fighter’ and said it has been a rollercoaster few months.
She said: “I’m just relieved. It’s been a rollercoaster. He is my Christmas miracle.”
Oakley is set to be in hospital until at least his original due date of February 9, 2023.
Little Oakley had an operation when he was just eight days old after being diagnosed with Necrotising enterocolitis, where tissues in the intestine become inflamed and die.
He has also had a stoma bag fitted and faces further surgeries next spring.
Hannah said: “Hopefully, we will be able to bring him home in a couple of months.
“He will have his stoma in from now until April.
“He is self-ventilating and breathing without any assistance.
“He’s not on a ventilator anymore.
“He has been put on oxygen high flow and oxygen low flow before.
“He has been absolutely amazing from when he was born.
“He has come on leaps and bounds.
“He is perfectly fine now. He had a major operation at eight days old.
“He was in ICU. He has been absolutely brilliant.
“I feel a bit lost at the moment because he is not at home.
“I can’t wait to get him home and we can be a normal family.
“It’s been stressful and up and down.”
Hannah complained to BRI about her treatment by medical staff there during her pregnancy with Oakley.
Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust confirmed an investigation of the events around her scans in October has now concluded.
A spokesman said: “We have concluded our investigation which is now being shared with Ms Cole.
“We would like to send our congratulations to her and her family on the birth of Oakley and wish the family well during his long neo-natal journey.”
Back in October, Sarah Hollins, director of midwifery at Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: “On behalf of the Trust, I would like to offer my sincere apologies for the distress and anxiety caused to Ms Cole regarding the treatment and care received during her current pregnancy.”
