Billie’s second child arrived unexpectedly on a rushed, unplanned home birth at 38 weeks in Christchurch. Delivered by his father, the moment was filled with excitement, but it soon turned concerning. While he initially seemed fine, with only fast breathing, his condition quickly deteriorated over the next 12 hours.
He was rushed to NICU, where the family was told he might need a day or two of support. But the journey stretched far longer than expected, and he spent 13 days in NICU instead.
It was a rollercoaster of emotions as the family was told repeatedly that he would be discharged the next day, only for him to take a step backward overnight. The uncertainty and emotional toll were overwhelming, but eventually, after many ups and downs, their son came home. For the first year of his life, he remained more vulnerable than usual, but after that, he thrived and remained well.
Three years later, Billie gave birth to her third child, her second son, at 37 weeks and 2 days in Auckland. He was born in a hospital, and like his older brother, meconium was found in his waters. Within an hour, he began showing signs of difficulty breathing.
At first, he managed, but with the knowledge of his older brother’s NICU experience, the medical team decided to transfer him to NICU earlier than they had with his sibling. They hoped to avoid the delays that had contributed to the extended stay for his brother.
Once again, Billie and her family were told to expect only a day or two of NICU support. However, this time, they prepared themselves mentally for a longer stay. The second NICU journey mirrored the first: after 12 days, with no major complications other than needing oxygen support, their youngest son was finally discharged.
They moved through the same stages: C-PAP, high flow, then low flow oxygen, slowly weaning off it. For both sons, it was a long and drawn-out recovery, but in the end, they both made it home.
The hardest part for Billie was the emotional struggle of being torn between her newborns in the hospital and her older children at home. With preschool-aged kids, they weren’t allowed to visit their brothers in NICU, adding another layer of guilt and difficulty.
Billie tried to balance it all, breastfeeding her youngest while also supporting her older children at home. The logistics were grueling, and the mental load heavy. She’d spend the day and night with her newborn in NICU, then go home in the evening to handle dinner and bedtime for her other children before heading back to the hospital.
For the first year of their older son’s life, he was frequently hospitalized for respiratory illnesses such as RSV, making their NICU journey feel all the more daunting. But since then, he has remained healthy and strong, showing how far they’ve come. Their younger son, now just a few months old, has grown stronger and more robust, and Billie is hopeful that he will handle the usual childhood illnesses with greater ease.
Throughout both of these journeys, Billie and her family found immense support from The Little Miracles Trust, whose work proved invaluable during their difficult times. The emotional and practical support they received helped them through some of the hardest moments of their lives. The work of the trust has left an indelible mark on their hearts, providing comfort when they needed it most.
For Billie and her family, the NICU journeys were long, challenging, and filled with emotional highs and lows. But through it all, they learned the importance of strength, resilience, and the unwavering support of those who care. Their two sons, though born prematurely and facing their own battles, are growing and thriving, and they look forward to the future with hope.