Baby Freya defies the odds in survival battle

Buy photos » Freya Farmer’s parents Lindsey Purnell and Lewis Farmer were told she would not survive after being born at 25 weeks. Picture by Marcus Mingins 0613009MMR. Order this picture at www.buyphotos247.com.

A MIRACLE baby born at just 25 weeks has been allowed home with her parents after they were told she would not survive labour.

Lindsey Purnell had to be induced 15 weeks before her due date after her blood pressure dropped dangerously low and she developed pre-eclampsia and liver problems.

She had spent two weeks in the Alexandra Hospital but was transferred to a hospital in Sheffield where she was told doctors would have to intervene to save her life.

But she was warned her baby was so tiny due to a problem with the bloodflow to the placenta she would not survive the contractions.

Baby Freya was born on September 6, 2012 weighing just 485 grams and, as specialists warned the first two hours were crucial, 23-year-old Lindsey and her 21-year-old partner Lewis Farmer prepared themselves for the worst.

Incredibly, Freya pulled through and was transferred to Heartlands Hospital in Birmingham after four weeks, staying there for 12 weeks before spending a further two weeks at the Alex and then being discharged to the family's Greenlands home.

Lindsey told the Standard: "It was hell, I don't think there was a point where we thought she would be okay until they told us we could bring her home.

"It was amazing when we were told she was being discharged, words can't explain how proud we were to bring her home."

Freya, who now weighs 4lb 15oz, still needs extra oxygen and has been left with chronic lung disease, cataracts and a hole in her heart. Doctors have warned she may have developmental problems but her parents said they just felt lucky she had survived.

"It was an emotional rollercoaster, one day we would be told she might not survive and the next we were told she could be fine. I wondered how me and my partner would cope and whether we were strong enough to do it but I feel like we could get through anything now."

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