After welcoming our first daughter Summer in 2010 and then devastatingly losing our second daughter Darcie shortly before birth in 2014. In June 2015 we were delighted yet extremely anxious to find out we were expecting our little rainbow baby due 14/2/16.

It was an eventful pregnancy from the get go & after my booking appointment at 8 weeks I received a letter informing me my blood tests had come back showing I carried antibodies. The antibodies could be completely harmless but blood tests throughout the pregnancy would keep a close eye on them. We found out at our 20 week scan we were expecting a beautiful baby boy and so far things were looking very good. We knew we had to take this one day at a time & all of the worrying would soon be worth it. 

At 29 weeks I received a call to say the antibody levels from my last blood test showed a high increase and I would need to go in for an emergency scan with the foetal medicine team. Thankfully the scan went well and a plan was put into place. I had  fortnightly scans, twice weekly monitoring & steroid injections to help my baby boys lungs incase he needed to come early.

At 36 weeks I was booked in for an induction as it was decided it was time for him to come. Our amazing baby boy Noah Thomas Smith was born 21/01/2016 at 9:47am weighing a very impressive 6lb 2.5oz. However a few hours after he was born he was whisked up to NICU, he was born with haemolytic disease of the newborn. His bilirubin levels were at exchange level & his red blood cell count was low. He spent his first 8 days on NICU (3 in the red room, 2 in the blue room & 3 in scbu) were he received immunoglobulins & intense light therapy & then the next 4 days on the maternity ward with me before we left for home.

We were home for one short evening before we were straight back to hospital as he struggled to keep his bilirubin levels down & red blood cell count up. We stayed a further week whilst he received a blood transfusion & more light therapy. We went home again with outpatient appointments to monitor him & were admitted again a week later for another blood transfusion but thankfully he began to build and get stronger very quickly after that and we were home after a two night stay. At 4 months old he was discharged a very happy, healthy and thriving little boy.

Needless to say we owe so much to all of the amazing Hull Royal Infirmary staff who cared for Noah & supported myself, Martin, Summer & our family through out that time in our lives. But we would like to say an extra special thank you to the Nicu ward for starting Noah on his road to becoming the fun loving, cheeky little 2 year old he is today. 

So myself & Martin decided this year we will run the Hull 10k & Great North Run to raise money for the baby unit. We know this unit has been invaluable to not just us but some of those close to us and we would really like to help them help others. If you could help us to do this that would be amazing! 

Thank you for reading our story <3 

With Love,

Stacey, Martin, Summer, Darcie & Noah xxx

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