A SALISBURY couple have spoken of the moment their baby was born 14 weeks early - weighing just under 2lbs - and had to be put on a life support machine.

Jamie Bundy’s wife Hannah went into early labour in May, 2017 with their son George when she was only six months pregnant.

The couple went straight to Salisbury District Hospital when Hannah was in severe pain and unable to talk with stomach cramps and within eight minutes their baby was born.

Hannah said: “The pain was so bad, I thought something was going wrong and we were going to lose him.”

Jamie added: “He was not alive when he was delivered and was taken off to resuscitation. Four minutes later he was breathing.”

George spent three months in hospital, including time on a life support machine. He also had to have several blood transfusions.

The couple did not see George for the first six hours of his life as medical staff got him ready to travel to a specialist unit at Southampton General Hospital.

“It was pretty traumatic,” said Jamie. “The first week-and-a-half we couldn’t hold him. That was hard, and when we were able to you have to be aware of all the wires ultimately keeping him alive.

“It is a very strange feeling, as soon as he was born he was whisked away. It’s a very surreal process that you’ve just had a baby and he is not with you.”

Hannah added: “The worst part is not holding your baby after giving birth, I didn’t even get to see George for the first six hours.

“It’s been quite a journey,” said Jamie, who says he knew very little about premature births before. “It is so common, I think one in ten babies are born premature.”

George, who is now 17 months, is doing well as Jamie explains: “He has started nursery now. We were told that he probably wouldn’t be able to go until he was a lot older or maybe not at all as his immune system would not be strong enough to cope with coughs and colds.”

Speaking to other parents going through similar situations he said: “You need to stay strong, ask as many questions as you can and just talk to people about it, but you also must find a little time to look after yourselves.

“Most people assume these babies are just small and need food and rest to get better, it’s a lot more complicated than that and it broke us every time this was said or implied.”

The couple hope to raise awareness of premature births to coincide with World Prematurity Day on November 17.