After four months in hospital a “miracle” baby weighing 580g is finally home and in the arms of her mother, who could not hold her when she was born.
Now, eManzimtoti resident Ansie De Conning, 37, is glad that her tiny baby Carla, has survived - what many would deem impossible.
De Conning, who says she thought she had a normal pregnancy, was suddenly shocked when she went into labour at 25 weeks.
“I had a wonderful pregnancy and there were no complications. In April, on the day that I planned to go to hospital to book my bed, I was driving my son to school.
“On the way back, I started to get severe contractions. I soon realised that my waters had broken. I drove myself straight to the Kingsway hospital and the doctor attended to me,” she said.
De Conning had already dilated to 4cm by then but an emergency caesarean section had to be performed because the doctor informed her that all of her amniotic fluid had leaked out.
“The doctor told me that they had to perform a C-section - I was so stunned and confused.
“I realised that it was too early for her to arrive. I really didn’t know what was going on, but all this time I just hoped that my baby girl would be okay,” she said.
At birth, Carla was so tiny that De Conning did not even get to hold her. Carla’s eyes did not open at birth.
Carla was so small she had to get special nappies to fit her. Her body was the length of a thermometer and could fit into her father’s hand.
De Conning lost a daughter three years ago to a rare genetic disease. The couple’s son is 10 years old.
“When Carla was born, it was a traumatic experience. My husband, Jaques, thought that she would not make it, and at one point he asked me to call the funeral parlour to find out about procedures and arrangements. But I always had hope.
“The moment that I first found out that I was pregnant and I knew that it was a little girl, I had faith that God would give me a miracle child since he took one away from me,” she said.
Carla had to spend four months in hospital to get intensive care treatment. She could not be held and, at one point, she picked up an infection.
“The nurses and doctors even lost hope at one point and they thought that she would not make it. But she’s a little survivor and I am so proud,” said De Conning.
Sadly, Carla developed retinopathy of prematurity which made her blind.
“Due to the prematurity, her retinas did not develop and she will be blind. This is tragic for us but we are just grateful that she is a healthy and now a bouncing baby.
“I know this is a bitter-sweet story but it should give hope to other mothers out there. As much as this sounds like a cliché, this has taught me that there is always light at the end of the tunnel and miracles do happen.
“My husband Jaques and I are grateful that God has given us Carla,” she said.
Sunday Tribune