Early arrivals in tough start to 2019

NO AMOUNT of time can prepare a new mum for the journey ahead. However, for Townsville’s Samantha Hayden, time was cut drastically short when she went into early labour at just 27 weeks with twins Zachary and Sebastian.

Samantha Hayden went into early labour at just 27 weeks with twins Zachary and Sebastian.

NO AMOUNT of time can prepare a new mum for the journey ahead.

However, for Townsville’s Samantha Hayden, time was cut drastically short when she went into early labour at just 27 weeks with twins Zachary and Sebastian.

“I started getting stomach cramps and went straight to the Townsville University Hospital so doctors could check on the boys, but that’s when I went into unexpected labour,” Samantha said.

“The nurses tried to postpone my labour because it was so premature, but before I knew it Zachary had other ideas, presenting to the world bottom first, so they rushed me in to have an emergency caesarean.”

Zachary and Sebastian were born just three minutes apart and were little more than the weight and size of a water bottle at just 1.1kg each.

Samantha said while she was certain her boys were in good hands, it was still a tough journey.

“Both boys were on ventilators for a couple of days and then they were on airflow machines for up to month after that,” she said.

“The hardest thing was I couldn’t hold my boys straight away, even if they were upset – that was really hard.

“Zachary I held on day seven and Sebastian I held on day 10, then I had my very first twin cuddle on day 12 and that was a beautiful moment and one I’ll never forget.”

Samantha said while the experience was scary, she was overwhelmed with the amount of support she received at the hospital.

“These are my first kids and it was a bit of a scary journey at the start,” she said.

“I remember when the first alarm went off in my room because Zachary’s heart rate had dropped and he stopped breathing. You hear those alarms in other rooms but when it’s suddenly happening to your baby it’s a whole different feeling.

“The team were on to it straight away and within moments we had everyone in there helping him.”

Samantha said the doctors had become like family.

“Everyone was fantastic, they are some of the best people in the world and we trusted them completely,” she said.

“The day they said we could go home I was a bit emotional because we were there for 105 days; we were part of the furniture, the staff became like extended family, and suddenly we were leaving them behind.

“There were tears all around, but I made a graduation cake to share with staff and gave them all hugs.

“Everyone there, from the doctors and nurses right through to the cleaners and administration staff were amazing.

“You truly can’t express your thanks to the people who help you in your most vulnerable moments.”

Spending Christmas in the hospital last year, Samantha said she was excited to spend the day at home with her twin boys, surrounded by family.

Originally published as Early arrivals in tough start to 2019