Sir Chris Hoy has marked World Prematurity Day after their own son was born 11-weeks early.
Sir Chris and his wife Lady Sarra Hoy visited Leeds Children's Hospital to meet families who are going through the same thing they did seven years ago when Sarra gave birth to son Callum at 29 weeks.
In October 2014, at 27 weeks pregnant, Sarra was diagnosed with potentially deadly pre-eclampsia.
It meant Callum had to be delivered by emergency caesarean section a fortnight later.
Callum weighed just 2lb 2oz when he arrived 11 weeks early in 2014.
Sir Chris, from Edinburgh said Callum, who spent his first two months in a neonatal unit, was so tiny he could fit into his hands.
The memories of those very difficult initial days are still fresh for the couple and Sir Chris, 46, says they wanted to do their bit to help others.
He said: "We are here to meet some of if the preemie families like us who have been through the neo-natal journey and to meet some of the experts on the ward.
"There's not much you can do practically as a parent when your child is in an incubator and it's so hard to physically do anything so you're taught how to change the nappy, that's the really important bonding phase. You realise how important it is for you as a parent."
Sarra added: "It feels like it was yesterday but it was seven years ago that our son Callum, our oldest child, was born at 29 weeks, 11 weeks early and we found ourselves sitting at the side of an incubator wondering what on earth lay ahead for our baby and for us as a family.
The couple have teamed up with with Pampers and baby charity Bliss to highlight the importance of touch for a baby and raise awareness.
Sir Chris added: “When our son was born prematurely, whilst it was a very distressing time for our family, we were encouraged to feel involved in Callum’s care.
"Simply placing a hand on him while he was in the incubator was the start of our close relationship with him and important for his early development.
"At the time, we struggled to find the right sized nappies to care for his gentle skin, but it’s great that Pampers is helping preemie babies by making their preemie nappies available to neonatal wards.”
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