P-04-603 Helping Babies Born Under 22 Weeks to Survive – Correspondence from the Petitioner to the Committee, 18.11.14
Hello,
I sent you an email which is my response. I would like its seen as important and taken into the committee meeting. I also write a response to the health ministers letter which iv underlined. Please take this as important also as i need resuscitation to be clearly understood, as the health minister havent looked into my petition properly as he has an opinion on something im not even asking for it the petition.
Thanks Emma jones
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Emma Jones's statement for her petition being considered on Tuesday 25th November.
I will start by noting all the evidence and proof i have gained since starting my petition.
- babies born early should be given a chance to live, i am fighting for change so that babies born with any signs of life are given appropriate care and medical assistance if needed. I am not asking for resuscitation to be carried out, i am asking for assistance to a breathing living baby.
- Resuscitation is not what i am asking, a baby born with signs of life are alive not dead meaning resuscitation is not needing to be carried out.
- A baby is entitled to rights, there right to live. Any baby born and breathing must have help, not be left to die because he/she has been born early.
- There is enough medical help and treatment available to babies born so premature, every baby has the right to be given the chance.
- I know babies been premature can die, but i also know babies can survive. I have proof and success stories from parents who have been able to take their baby home after being born so early.
- It is LAW that each human has rights, when born and living in this world that individual has rights. A baby should never be left to die down to a guideline.
- Babies born before 24 weeks have been seen to do very well in the last 5 years, research and numbers have shown babies can survive and life normal lives when born so early.
- Some babies before 23 weeks have survived with no disabilities at all, other have survived but with minor/ severe difficulties. Unless the baby is given the chance no one will know that babies fate.
Personal experience
After suffering the loss of my first child at 22 weeks gestation, i learnt to cope and deal with my loss. My first son was still born and passed away during labour. Not once and would i ever had asked for resuscitation after my son had died. He was at rest and i would never had know what harm it would have done bringing him back. But, back in December 2012 i gave birth to my second son at the heath hospital wales. Not only was my son born breathing and alive, no one helped! he was said to be incompatible with life. As he was born just before 23 weeks. My son was alive and no assistance was offered even after begging and hoping for help. He was left to die because he was early, he live for 93 minutes with no help, breathed all on his own.
- Can anyone say if my son was helped he would not have survived for sure? NO
- Can any medical professional tell me that my sons death was uncontrollable? NO
- Could my son have lived? YES
- Will we ever know if he would be here today? NO
Many babies have died down to these guidelines being 24 weeks, at 22 weeks gestation a baby can near enough weigh the same or even more than a baby at 24 weeks. At 22 weeks a baby is strong enough to breath on its own for an amount of time, at 22 weeks babies have survived when been given the chance to live.
I am in contact with many parents who elsewhere have been lucky. There babies were chosen to be given the chance, their babies were lucky to have the medical staff that couldn't turn away this helpless little baby.
Lately, a number of stories have been coming out to the public on premature babies. Many families who have suffered a loss down to the guidelines have been speaking out, stories on a baby being helped before 23 weeks has been printed and shared. The numbers of babies surviving at such a low age have been rising and Wales are behind in the success of this.
Because they are not given the chance, i have documents and stories all available to share with you.
Documentaries have also been aired on premature babies, such as "miracle babies" a program behind small babies and how they get on. The number of babies in this series alone has struck the news and social media. In this one series alone 5 babies in total have survived and gone home to family. This is one of the best examples i can give you. This is proof smaller babies are surviving.
I am fighting for guidelines to change from 24 weeks gestation to 22 weeks gestation. I am fighting to change this knowing babies can survive at this age, but must be given the chance.
In response to the Health minister's letter
I am not sure you have looked into my petition properly, as stated on it title i am asking for help and assistance to be given to a baby born at or after 22 weeks if born with any signs of life. If a baby is born breathing it should not be left to die, as you stated resuscitation should not be carried out in the best interests of the baby. I fully agree with you that a baby who is dead should not be resuscitated. What i am asking is nothing to do with resuscitation and its guideline. I am asking for a living human being to have appropriate care and as much fight as possible to be kept alive.
This is as clear as i can be.
Please consider what i am asking in respect of parents and the babies being born into this world before their time.
We can be saving so many more, babies are dying for no reason.
Please look at what the people want, the parents and families who have to deal with losses that would have been prevented.
Thank you
Emma I jones