Leon's Story

Leon was born at 36 weeks. We first knew Leon was likely to arrive a little earlier than planned after being admitted to hospital for preterm rupture of membranes. 

After a few days in hospital the labour progressed, but not as expected, as Leon was facing sideways. We were advised an instrumental delivery may be needed. We expressed our wishes that forceps be used over ventouse but both ventouse and forceps were used. The use of ventouse caused Leon to be born with three subgaleal haematomas. 

At first, no one seemed to be aware of Leon’s condition and concerns were only raised by a nurse hours after the birth when Leon’s temperature dropped significantly. We both felt overwhelming confusion, panic and hopelessness as Leon was assessed by paediatric doctors before being whisked away from us. It was explained to us that Leon needed to be transferred to Southampton Neonatal Intensive Care Unit by SONeT (The Southampton Oxford Neonatal Transfer service). Seeing Leon hooked up to the machines in the ward was the most terrifying thing we have ever been through. Leon had further tests and monitoring at Southampton and was later transferred back to Winchester NICU where he spent the remainder of his hospital stay. There were many ups and downs over the following days. We still panic if we hear random beeping sounds as it immediately reminds us of the machines on the neonatal unit and the feelings we felt while sat there. We are extremely lucky that with time the haematomas resolved and phototherapy for jaundice (made worse by the haematomas) worked. 

Leon has had two further hospital stays, one when a remaining haematoma liquified and ‘shifted’ causing his little head to change shape in a matter of hours, which was very alarming at the time. Leon was later re-admitted to Winchester as he was unable to keep any milk down and was not at all well. We were told that he needed an operation for Pyloric Stenosis, and he was once again transferred to Southampton. Luckily, the surgical team in Southampton realised he had been misdiagnosed before the operation and in the coming days was correctly diagnosed with a protein allergy which is now easily managed.

We have been told that there are not likely to be any longterm effects from the subgaleal haematomas, and so far Leon is doing extremely well and meeting milestones, but given what he has been through it is probably natural that we will always tend to over worry. 

We will never take for granted just how lucky we are that Leon is now doing ok and that we get to hear his giggle and see his amazing smile every day. This is we why we believe the work Ickle Pickles does is so important, to help make sure there is equipment and support available to help families in similar situations.