Mum’s miracle as most premature twin is allowed home

Tiny Jacob McMahon defied the odds when he was born.

Doctors had even advised mother Sara Fisher to abort her tiny baby after his twin sister, Emie, died when she was born at 21 weeks and six days from an infection.

But battling Jacob fought for his life and made his bid for the big wide world 12 hours before doctors wanted the family’s final decision on whether to terminate the pregnancy.

He was born in the early hours of February 22, weighing just 1lb 4oz at 23 weeks, one hour and 15 minutes – he was due on June 21.

A delighted Miss Fisher, 25, and father Scott McMahon, 26, have finally been able to bring home their bundle of joy at five months old.

And although he has to be constantly attached to an oxygen supply to help his tiny lungs they have been told he is going from strength to strength.

He now feeds from a bottle and weighs a healthier 7lb 3oz.

Miss Fisher said: “It feels surreal being home. It is a day that was not spoken of because we thought it would never happen.”

She was just 16 weeks into her pregnancy when her waters broke with Emie.

She said: “I went into labour at 21 weeks and six days and unfortunately she showed no signs of life at birth.

“I stayed in hospital and eight days later my little boy was born.

“We couldn’t believe it when doctors told us we had to consider abortion. They told us I had an infection and that he wouldn’t survive.

“They gave us 24 hours to decide whether we wanted to take a tablet that could stop his heart.

“We did not want to do that but luckily that decision was taken away from us when I went into labour at midnight.

“I was petrified about what was going to happen. The whole pregnancy was scary and we were heartbroken after losing Emie, I thought we were going to lose Jacob.

“But I’m pleased to say we have a little miracle on our hands. He wanted to survive. It feels like we’re on a rollercoaster and I can’t get off. Sometimes I feel so sad and then other times I think how lucky we are.

“But Jacob is a twin and I don’t want to forget he is a twin. That makes him even more special."

The couple only saw their son at Bradford Royal Infirmary for a few seconds before he was whisked away, placed in an incubator and hooked up to a ventilator to keep him alive.

Miss Fisher, of Holme Wood, Bradford, said: “We were told at birth that the first couple of days would be a honeymoon period and then after a couple of days he would go downhill and he did.

“There have been several times that we thought he would not be with us.”

His mother was unable to hold her son for four weeks and two days, by which time his weight had dropped to 1lb 2oz.

“It felt amazing,” she said. “You wait so long for it and are grateful for every little thing – feeding him for the first time and giving him his first bath at 105 days old. I took him out in his pram for the first time last Wednesday.”

Jacob has had laser surgery on his eyes and could be short-sighted but doctors are happy with his progress.

Miss Fisher said: “Hopefully, as he gets bigger his lungs will get stronger and we will be able to reduce the amount of oxygen. He has had several brain ultrasound scans and they have been showing he is normal.”

Consultant neonatologist Dr Sam Oddie said: “We have never had a baby survive at 23 weeks before. His twin sister was born so early there was no prospect of her being able to survive and we were extremely concerned whether Jacob could survive.

“We are delighted he has overcome the odds. We are going to keep a close eye on Jacob in the coming months and years and we hope he will develop very well.”