Newspaper Article

Premature Ruby is a born fighter

Parkess, Diane

2009

Overview

\"At that age every single day matters, and certainly a week makes so much difference,\" says 35-year-old [Claire]. \"With [Ruby Darby] I went into labour and actually had a 27-hour labour and that actually gave her an extra day.\" Which is not to say Ruby did not have her own complications. During her first 18weeks she fended off infections including one potentially fatal bout of serratia whose outbreak in January of this year forced the temporary closure of the unit. The outbreak left seven babies affected while one died from the condition which can cause various infections, pneumonia and blood poisoning in people with a weakened immune system. And Claire and husband [Jon Darby], a 35-year-old business manager, put much of their lives on hold as they shuttled back and forth between the hospital. \"I would go every day to see her while Jon was at work, then I would come home and then we would both go back in the evening,\" says Claire. \"It was really hard. There were days when you came out really disheartened. \"But over the time you could see her gradually putting on weight and getting stronger.\" Part of the reason for this growth was Claire's own commitment to breastfeeding. A premature baby needs the antibodies which it has not received by staying full term in the womb and cannot be fed on formula milk. \"They had explained it all to me when [Lauren] was born and how important it is for premature babies so I was ready for Ruby,\" says Claire. \"I was fortunate because I was able to expressmilk and had a very good supply from the beginning. They were then able to feed Ruby through a tube. She was only having really tiny amounts but regularly.

• Publisher: Mirror Regional Newspapers
• Subject: Darby, Jon / Darby, Ruby