Baby born hours after legal abortion limit defies the odds
A first-time mum whose baby was born just hours after the medical abortion limit has told how he’s grown into everything she “could ever have wished for”.
Casey, who is now 18-months-old, was delivered by emergency C-section just five months into the pregnancy and began life without a heartbeat, not breathing and the size of a small bottle of Coke.
Had he been born just hours earlier, doctors would not have fought to save his life as he would not have passed the 24-week term necessary in the UK.
31-year-old Kirsty Dunn discovered she was pregnant in August 2015 and, although her 20-week scan revealed she had a low-lying placenta, there were no indications she would have any problems.
However, in January, as she and husband James were about to go shopping for a Moses basket for their unborn child, Kirsty had an awful shock.
"I started bleeding so I was rushed to hospital,” she said.
“They found I was two centimeters dilated and told me I might have to spend the rest of my pregnancy in hospital.”
On her third night in Coventry University Hospital Kirsty suffered a severe haemorrhage during the night.
She was rushed into the labour ward and was given a devastating prognosis about her baby.
Before long she was prepped for surgery, and had no idea whether Casey would be alive or dead when she came around.
"It was terrifying. His heart rate had plummeted and they told me he only had a 10 per cent chance of survival.
"I was losing so much blood they also told me I might need a hysterectomy. The last thing I remember before the anaesthetic was asking the surgeon if I was going to die.
"I had no idea if I would wake up, and if I'd have my baby if I did."
When she came around the next morning she was given the good news that Casey was alive and had been stabilised, and that surgeons had not needed to perform a hysterectomy.
It was not until the next day that she was allowed to see him and consider herself a new mum.
However, she admits that the first four days were not easy, as she was not allowed to touch Casey.
"At first he was smaller than my hand. I could fit my whole finger in his tiny little fist as it closed around it,” she said.
"His eyes were fused shut and he was almost see-through. He looked like a baby chicken.”
In total, Casey spent 107 days in hospital before he was finally allowed home.
He remained on oxygen 24-hours-a-day, with Kirsty and James installing multiple tanks around their home.
Kirsty remembers the 'delight' of bringing him home, but also the “fear” at having to look after him.
Now weighing 21 pounds, Casey is still small for his age but is thriving.
His lung condition has seen him hospitalised three times, but Kirsty says he will grow out of the problem by the time he starts school.
"He is doing great. He has improved so much,” she said.
"He's a typical toddler, and it's more than we could ever have wished for.”
In Australia, depending on which state you live in, abortions can be administered up until around the 14 – 24-week mark of a pregnancy.
In NSW and Queensland, a woman found to be “unlawfully” having an abortion or a person who is discovered administering an “unlawful” abortion could face time in prison.
However, it is not considered a criminal act if the abortion is to protect the woman’s physical and mental health.
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