A MUM battling swine flu gave birth while unconscious, 14 weeks early as doctors fought to  save her life and that of her unborn baby.

Kate Foy was diagnosed with the life-threatening condition when she was just 26 weeks pregnant.

Doctors told the 34-year-old her baby girl would have to be delivered so they could treat her failing lungs, and give her a chance to survive.

After giving birth to little Alice 14 weeks early via Caesarean section, Kate was put into a medically induced coma.

Intensive care medics put her on life-support as she fought pneumonia.

Baby Alice, weighing just 2Ibs 5oz, was whisked from the intensive care unit at Hull Royal Infirmary, over to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at Hull Women and Children's Hospital, where she began her battle for life.

It was 13 days later before Mrs Foy, who also has two sons, was well enough to be woken up and told she had given birth to baby Alice.

"It was the most frightening time of my life," she said. "I didn't want her to come that early.

"I'd heard that babies can be born prematurely and survive but I knew she was way too small and I kept refusing.

"But they couldn't treat me properly, I wasn't getting enough oxygen into my blood, so I had no choice but to agree.
"The last thing I remember is signing the disclaimer."

They couldn't treat me properly, I wasn't getting enough oxygen into my blood, so I had no choice

Mrs Foy is telling her story a year on from their ordeal, to raise awareness of the work done in the neonatal units at Hull Women and Children's Hospital.

She had been taken ill with what was thought to be a chest infection, but after deteriorating she was rushed to hospital where doctors discovered she had Swine influenza and pneumonia.

Her husband Jim, who was unable to be at the birth or see Alice for the seven days of her life due to risk of him also carrying swine flu, put up photographs of the baby around his wife's hospital bed so she could see them as soon as she woke up.

"I was only meant to be in a coma for 48 hours but my lungs weren't working so they couldn't wake me up," she said.

"When they brought me round I had no concept of time, I didn't know it had been so long.

"I was confused, scared, frustrated, and angry that couldn't be with my baby girl.

"When I gave birth to my two boys I held them straight away so it was heartbreaking to not be with her."

Mrs Foy faced a long road to recovery and, having suffered muscle wastage, was initially unable to move.

She had also been given a tracheotomy, which prevented her from talking.

WHAT IS SWINE FLU?

Swine flu was the name given to a virus responsible for a global flu outbreak in 2009/10.

It is not just a normal seasonal flu.

The virus was first identified in Mexico in April 2009. It became known as swine flu because it's similar to flu viruses that affect pigs.

It spread rapidly from country to country because it was a new type of flu virus that few young people were immune to.

Most cases in the UK were relatively mild – although serious cases still occurred.

On August 10 2010, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the pandemic officially over.

Symptoms:

The symptoms are the same as normal flu – they're usually mild and pass within a week or so. But as with all types of flu, some people – particularly those with underlying health problems – are at higher risk of serious illness.

• sudden fever
• dry, chesty cough
• headache
• tiredness and weakness
• chills and aching muscles
• limb or joint pain
• diarrhoea
• nausea or vomiting
• sore throat
• runny or blocked nose
• sneezing
• loss of appetite
• difficulty sleeping

Treatment:

Usually you can manage symptoms without seeing a GP. Most people feel better within a week of getting the flu.

But you should see you GP if you are:

• over 65
• pregnant
• have lung, heart, kidney, liver or brain disease
• have a weak immune system
• have diabetes

Swine flu is also included in the regular flu vaccine.

Source: NHS Choices

It was a further three days before she was able to be wheeled over to meet her baby.

She said during her hospital stay, it was letters written by the neo-natal nurses taking care of Alice, along with the baby's hand and foot prints, that kept her going through the ordeal.

She said: "The kindness of my daughter's nurses shone through.
"They regularly sent letters detailing how she was doing.

"One of my nurses said to me to use my anger to get better and that's exactly what I did, I had three little reasons to get moving.

"My nurses were fantastic and really kept my spirits up.
"They really don't know how I did it but I got better so much faster than expected, proving all the specialists wrong.

"I had so much to get well for, although I couldn't have done it without the support of my friends and family who really came through for us."

Despite being told to expect a hospital stay of up to six months, through sheer determination, Mrs Foy made it home within six weeks.

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But despite starting her own road to recovery at home, her daughter was still fighting for life in NICU.

Baby Alice battled a devastating intestinal disease called necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), as well as sepsis, and was moved between the intensive care and special care rooms on the neo-natal ward as she got better.

She suffered several relapses before finally being discharged 14 weeks later on April 11.

Now, a year on, Mrs Foy is starting a tough training regime in preparation for the Hull 10k in June. She aims to raise £990, which is the equivalent of £10 for every day her daughter spent in NICU.

Last month, Alice turned one and is a happy, healthy baby girl, unaware of the dramatic events of last year surrounding her birth.

Mrs Foy said: "Without those doctors and nurses, neither of us would be here today.

"They saved her life and they kept our family together.

"I want to say thank you to the people who saved our daughter, who took such good care of her and supported us throughout her NICU journey.

"How do you say thank you for saving your daughter's life? You can't.
"There's nothing you can ever do to repay them, but this is my way of showing my appreciation.

"They save countless babies and should be recognised for the work that they do. For us it was the worst time of our life, but this year I'm turning it all around."

"I am raising money for this incredible unit to say thank you to them for saving our little girl so many times and making our family complete."

She added: "As well as caring for Alice, the nurses supported my husband, and our young sons, Alfie and Tommy, when they visited their tiny sister in hospital, and were so supportive when I was finally able to meet my daughter for the first time.

"They were there for us as Alice fought for her life, battling infections, and learning to feed and breathe, explaining her condition, procedures and equipment, and teaching us how to care for her.

"These special nurses became like friends helping us through our NICU journey. They are angels in blue."

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