‘Sugar bag’ baby out of hospital is “best Christmas present ever” for Wakefield mum

First-time mum Claire Campbell of Wakefield feared for her baby daughter Bella Grace after she was born weighing just 2lb 10z.

Miss Campbell had to undergo an emergency caesarian section 16 hours after going into premature labour as Bella was in a breech position.

Bella was taken to the neo-natal unit at Pinderfields Hospital where she was placed in an incubator and wired up to a ventilator and medication.

She had to spend more than eight weeks in hospital before being allowed home.

Now Bella is 13 weeks old, weighs a healthy 6lb and has suffered no long term ill-effects following her early arrival in the world.

Miss Campbell said: “It’s the best Christmas present ever.

“It is fantastic, we have waited so long for Bella to come home.

“We are going to my mum and dad’s for Christmas dinner and Bella will be spoiled. All the family are over the moon and so happy.

“She’s a good baby, she’s happy and smiley and very active. It’s amazing to see how much progress she has made.

“She’s getting plenty of visitors and she will have lots of presents on Christmas morning.”

Miss Campbell said she was fearful after Bella was born so early, adding: “It was very scary and worrying, we didn’t know if she was going to get through it or not.”

Miss Campbell and her partner Russell Young, 42, are full of praise for staff on the neo-natal unit at Pinderfields.

She said: “We would like to say a big thank you to everyone who has played a part in looking after Bella.”