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Baby delivery for COVID-19 patient
from LUHFT Life - Issue 6
by LUHFT
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Baby wish comes true for COVID-19 patient
It’s not every day a baby is born here at Liverpool University Hospitals, but earlier this year our incredible staff helped to deliver a baby boy in the Royal’s Intensive Care Unit.
Sophie Byrne, 28, was fighting for her life after contracting COVID-19 while she was pregnant. Her baby boy, Joseph, had to be delivered by caesarean 11 weeks early when the mum-of-three was placed in a coma as her condition deteriorated.
Working with a team from the Liverpool Women's Hospital, ICU staff helped to deliver Joseph on 26 August – who weighed just 3lb 2oz. After seven weeks in a coma, Sophie’s health began to improve, and she was brought out of sedation to find out the wonderful news that she had given birth to a healthy baby boy. Speaking to the Liverpool ECHO, Sophie said: "Staff at the Royal informed my family that I might not survive the delivery because I was so weak. Joseph's dad was able come in and see me but not my parents due to the risk of COVID-19. I got to hold Joseph for the first time on October 4. I only saw him for the first time in September through FaceTime. But I was heavily sedated and can't remember a thing about that day." Sophie is now continuing to recover from the virus at home, having contracted pneumonia as a complication of her illness. She said: "I had to learn to walk again because I had been in bed for so long. And I had to learn to eat again after undergoing a tracheotomy. It's been hard and there is a long road ahead."
Sophie now wants to raise awareness of the seriousness of contracting COVID-19 and the need to get vaccinated, she said: "COVID-19 nearly killed me and I had no underlying health conditions. I was not vaccinated because I was pregnant. People need to take this seriously. I did not doubt COVID-19 existed but did not fully appreciate how devastating it could be." Thanking staff at the Royal, Sophie said: "Thank you for saving my life and delivering Joseph. Christmas this year will mean more to me than any other Christmas. At one point I didn’t think I would see it with how poorly I was. “But thanks to the amazing staff on ICU and HDU they made my wish come true. I have my amazing miracle baby Joseph to make it even more special for my family.” Sophie is now supporting the Liverpool University Hospital Charity's Christmas Appeal to raise money to purchase gifts for patients who will wake up in our hospitals on Christmas Day.
