Breaking News
Life in their hands
Tuesday 22 April, 2008 9:01am
SARIAH Giblin has her baby, but she hasn't had her baby shower yet.
When he was born, her son Wiremu Giblin could wear his father's wedding band around his arm.
He was 14 weeks premature, weighing a minuscule 650g.
He was born by an emergency caesarian after Mrs Giblin suffered acute pre-eclampsia.
He is by no means the smallest or youngest baby being cared for at the neonatal intensive care unit he came to the attention of the Press after his family sent in his photo for the Our New Arrivals section.
Now 32 weeks, he's a battler. His weight has increased to 1.6kg, and he's grown from 31 to 39cm.
"He's up and down at the moment," Mrs Giblin said. "He's trying, he has his hiccups."
Wiremu is on and off his ventilator and has lung problems.
He's not expected to leave hospital until his due date of May 31.
Mrs Giblin is allowed to hold him every day, even though he is attached to tubes.
"I'm here every morning from 10, and his dad comes in after work at 4pm."
Mrs Giblin has to return to work this week, but she still plans to see her baby every day.
"Even if I'm on nights I'll be in here," she said.
Mrs Giblin said every baby in the unit received huge amounts of one-on-one care.
"The staff here are terrific, they are really supportive," she said.
Grandmother Diane Giblin said all the family's plans "went out the window" when Wiremu was born early.
"We're still having the baby shower in a few weeks," she said.
"The rest of the family haven't got to see him yet, as they're not allowed in the unit.
"So we've been making a video, and Sunday lunch is watching the video time.
"But he's already developed his own temperament."
Mrs Giblin said his oxygen saturation levels always improve when she reads to him.
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