A mum was left stunned after giving birth to her baby three months early weighing roughly the same as a bag of sugar.
Charlotte Frankland, from Paisley, went into labour while just 27 weeks pregnant with baby Eva Lochery and had to undergo an emergency section.
The 26-year-old began bleeding and instantly knew something was wrong before her waters broke on November 2.
She was then rushed by ambulance to the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow.
Medics tried to slow down labour in order to give Eva extra time to grow but by Thursday morning, Charlotte was experiencing contractions every two minutes and taken for an emergency cesarean section.
When baby Eva was welcomed into the world at 9.27am on November 4, she weighed roughly the same as a bag of sugar.
Talking to the Daily Record about the ‘overwhelming’ experience, Charlotte said: “It was scary knowing that she would be born so early, it's daunting not knowing what's in front of you with a premature baby.
“I started bleeding and knew something was wrong, I had to be taken by ambulance to hospital once my waters broke.
“I was feeling scared and overwhelmed as the doctors warned me of all the things that could go wrong because of how early she was going to be.
“The staff at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital were absolutely amazing, I couldn't fault them at all.”
Charlotte and her partner Chris Lochery, who already share little two-year-old Ollie together, can’t wait to bring their miracle baby home.
But first Eva faces ‘a hard few months’ before she is able to leave the newborn intensive care unit and must undergo tests and brain scans.
Doctors also want her to try and gain weight before she is discharged.
Charlotte added: “I have had tears in my eyes thinking about my baby girl lying there without me, the next few months are going to be so hard.
“At the moment we won't know how being born early will affect her in the future, things can change daily.
"She's not got any lung issues but she's needing all the support to help her grow and build her strength.
“She will be in the newborn intensive care unit most likely until her due date at the end of January.
“Eva’s weight is down to 1lbs 15oz just now but she's our little fighter.
“She's doing amazing so far, she's gone up on her milk so hopefully that will start to help her gain again.
“We are allowed to hold her as doctors say skin to skin helps.
“I'm gutted that Ollie won't get to cuddle or meet his sister anytime soon but she is in the right place to make her stronger.”
Charlotte is now fundraising for the neonatal unit as a thank you to the ‘heroes’ who kept her ‘baby alive’
She added: “I wanted to fundraise as the neonatal unit does an amazing job and are keeping our baby alive.
“Eva is such a trooper, but if it weren't for the amazing Neonatal team I honestly dread to think what the outcome might have been.
“The nurses and doctors really are lifetime heroes and take care of our beautiful daughter every single day.
“If anyone is able to donate even as little as £1 I would be grateful but if not, a share would go a million miles and may help us reach our target.”
You can donate to the JustGiving page here.
