{"id":296760,"date":"2023-08-20T13:06:43","date_gmt":"2023-08-20T18:06:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.liveaction.org\/news\/?p=296760"},"modified":"2023-08-18T15:42:09","modified_gmt":"2023-08-18T20:42:09","slug":"100-days-nicu-preemie-henry-home","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/archive.liveaction.org\/news\/100-days-nicu-preemie-henry-home\/","title":{"rendered":"After 100 days in the NICU, preemie Henry is home"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Both Henry Morris and his mother Della Shiel overcame countless obstacles by the time baby Henry was finally able to come home from the hospital. Born weighing just one pound, two ounces, Henry spent 100 days in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) following his birth at 24 weeks.<\/span><\/p>\n

Shiel and her partner Joe Morris had been trying for a baby for a year before Shiel made the decision to lose weight in order to help her conceive. She lost over 120 pounds and finally learned she was pregnant in October of 2022. Then, she struggled with hyperemesis \u2013 severe morning sickness \u2013 that didn\u2019t let up as the pregnancy progressed.<\/span><\/p>\n

Then, in March 2023, Shiel went to Rotherham General Hospital after experiencing a \u201cgush\u201d of blood. She explained, \u201cOn March 23, 2023, I was sat on the sofa, and I felt a gush. I looked and it was blood. I wasn\u2019t worried \u2013 I had a little bleeding early on.\u201d But she went to the hospital where she was shocked to learn she was in labor.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

According to <\/span>The Yorkshire Post,<\/span><\/a> she was dilated five centimeters and it was too late to do a cervical stitch to try to stop labor. Just two days later, she had to undergo an emergency premature delivery (not<\/em> an induced abortion) after her water broke and she suffered an umbilical prolapse. The cord had dropped in front of the baby, causing an emergency situation for little Henry, potentially cutting off his oxygen and nutrients. He had to be delivered.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Shiel said her room filled quickly with medical staff, and when Henry was born, it took four tries for them to intubate him before taking him to the NICU.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I saw Henry for the first time it was just surreal,\u201d she <\/span>said<\/span><\/a>. \u201cHis skin was very delicate. I felt I was watching someone else\u2019s life. It was hard to recognize him as my baby at first.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n