BRAVE Alice Mcloughlin shares the amazing story of a death defying battle between her unborn baby and a contraceptive coil.
Baby Misty, who is now a year old, fought against the odds and defied doctors’ expectations.
Though doctors had attempted to remove the coil three times to ensure a safe pregnancy, their attempts failed, leaving Misty battling for her life and parents Alice and Dean in turmoil.
“We were scared but remained positive,” said Alice, a 22 year-old Ruthin caterer.
“We thought they were exaggerating and that it wouldn’t happen to us.”
The news was a shock to the couple, who had assumed the coil must have fallen out or become dislodged to allow the pregnancy.
“It was very stressful and emotionally draining,” said Alice. “We could never just enjoy the pregnancy. Every twinge I felt, I panicked. I dreaded every check up with the midwife.
“Dean even bought me a heart monitor to have at home so I could check the baby myself.”
The coil could have pierced the amniotic sac in which Misty was developing, killing her instantly.
But, Misty pulled through to 25 weeks.
However, the situation worsened upon Alice’s waters breaking - she had developed potentially deadly septicemia, due to a blood infection caused by the coil.
“It was petrifying,” she said. “I never thought my life would be at risk, but I think it was worse for Dean and my family, watching everything fall apart,” said Alice.
Miraculously, both Misty and Alice pulled through the tragic event and after both had received special care and treatment, were reunited four hours later.
“It was difficult. She was so tiny. We had never seen a baby that small and she was full of tubes, but the hospital had put a little pink bonnet on her, which we still have.
“I remember that making us really happy.”
Upon being shown the dreaded coil, it was demanded that it be thrown in the bin.
“If we had a different outcome I was going to keep it. But after all the pain it caused I just wanted it gone.”
Misty now weighs 14lb 5oz and wears 3-6 months’ clothes, but is developing perfectly for her corrected age, due to the premature birth.
Though she had four strawberry marks, signs of common infancy tumours, Alder Hay Children’s Care Hospital in Liverpool are no longer concerned.
The decision to speak out about the issues surrounding her birth came from Alice’s determination to let other people know they should never lose hope.
“People need to know that these miracle babies can pull through,” says Alice.
“We feel blessed. We are all so proud of her, and we can never thank the nurses at Glan Clwyd Special Care Baby Unit enough. They became our family, and were just as happy as we were. They’re amazing people.”