A mother’s worst nightmare: Yasmine’s story and the reality of preterm birth

Born 15 weeks early, Ava weighed little more than a tub of butter when she came into the world.

Her tiny hands were no bigger than her parents’ wedding rings and her fragile little body could fit in the palm of their hands. Born weighing 580 grams, she was small yet mighty enough to tackle the complex challenges a marathon 101-day stay in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit would bring for the brave micro preemie.

Ava’s sudden introduction to the world was a life-and-death decision made by the world-class team of experts at Perth’s King Edward Memorial Hospital. Up until three days prior to her hurried delivery via emergency classical caesarean section under a general anaesthetic, her mum Yasmine Phillips had experienced a smooth pregnancy where the expected side effects like morning sickne