Greenock mum of premature baby feared she would lose her

Kimberley Melvin gave birth to daughter Freya Rose 15 weeks early in July and the little tot weighed less than a bag of sugar at just 1.6lbs.

The brave wee baby is still in hospital to this day, having also had to see off potentially deadly Streptococcus and be revived on a number of times after she stopped breathing.

Reliving her baby's dramatic delivery, 25-year-old mum Kimberley told told how she was rushed to the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Paisley, underwent tests and was immediately transferred to the Princess Royal Maternity Hospital in Glasgow.

Kimberley said: "I had been fine, just feeling tired, then I woke up and I'd been bleeding.

"I thought that I might be having a miscarriage.

"I went to Paisley and was told that I was being transferred to the Royal.

"I was sent straight to the labour suite - my contractions started at 10pm and Freya was born at 11.55pm.

"I was so scared to give birth as the doctors said there was a 30 per cent chance that Freya would be stillborn.

"I was so frightened I was going to lose her."

Freya Rose Gallacher

The last few months have been a hugely anxious ordeal for Kimberley and partner James Gallacher, who live in Gael Street.

Their daughter was cared for in an incubator for the first two months of her life before being transferred to a cot on a ventilator.

Kimberley is suffering from post traumatic stress disorder over the trauma and worry she has experienced, which has also affected James' health.

Kimberley said: "Freya is my first and my last baby.

"It's been touch and go - I've been going up every day to see her.

James Kimberley and Freya

"Sometimes I just go to the hospital and cry, but the staff have been amazing - I feel as if they are like a second family.

"They are always there for us and we've also had great support from the psychology staff."

Freya now weighs 6lb, around the weight she should have been when delivered, but she has also suffered serious setbacks.

She was due to come home early this month until Kimberley noticed a rash which could have proved fatal.

She said: "It turned out to be Streptococcus, bacteria in the blood, which is also very serious.

"She might not have been here."

Kimberley and James hope that Freya will be able to come home soon - and her doting mum and dad have already got her bedroom decorated fit for a princess.

She is an extra special baby, not only because of all her battles to survive, but just to be here in the first place.

Kimberley has polycystic ovary syndrome - which can result in irregular periods or no periods at all - and she had been told she wouldn't be able to have children.

She said: "I went for an ultrasound for the purpose of getting a cyst removed and I discovered there was a baby in there - 25 weeks into the pregnancy.

"We were overjoyed by the news."

Now the proud mum is counting the hours to when she will have Freya home and not have to go to the hospital any more.

Kimberley said: "We are looking forward to being a family.

"The best Christmas present for us will be having Freya home where she belongs."

The couple are so grateful to the hospital staff that Kimberley and two friends Amber Hall and Antonia Concliffe are taking part in a sponsored abseil at Ibrox Stadium at the end of the month.

Kimberley has also organised a raffle and wants to thank all the local businesses for donating prizes.

She has raised more than £300 already for Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity for the neo-natal unit.

Donations can be made online at https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/kimberley-melvin?