A Middlesbrough mother, whose son arrived into the world nearly nine weeks ahead of schedule, has successfully raised close to £1,000 for the neonatal unit that provided critical care for her newborn. Amber Webster, aged 29, experienced an unexpected labour in July, initially mistaking the signs for Braxton Hicks contractions.
An Unexpected and Rapid Arrival
After attending the maternity triage at The James Cook University Hospital early in the morning and being sent home by midday, Amber suddenly felt the overwhelming urge to push just hours later. Her husband, Josh Webster, promptly dialled 111 for emergency advice. While an ambulance was dispatched, the call handler talked Josh through the necessary steps.
Remarkably, after fifteen minutes on the phone, their son Jude made his entrance into the world a mere two minutes before paramedics reached their home. Born weighing a delicate 3lb 6oz, he was swiftly wrapped in towels and then placed in what Amber describes as a special "foil bag" designed to maintain his body temperature.
"We were rushed into the back of the ambulance and taken straight to James Cook’s maternity unit," Amber recalled. "I remember looking over and seeing him in a foil bag with little slits in it; all we could see were his eyes."
Twenty-Two Days of Specialist Neonatal Care
Upon arrival at the hospital, the family was taken directly to the neonatal intensive care unit, where Jude would remain for the next 22 days. As a first-time mother with no prior experience of neonatal care, Amber quickly familiarised herself with the unit's operations, including how babies are progressively moved between different bays as their health improves.
"Over the weeks, it was amazing to see him moving through the room numbers," she said. During his stay, Jude encountered challenges with feeding, a common issue for extremely premature infants who have not yet developed the ability to swallow. He was supported with a feeding tube, steadily gained weight, and maintained good breathing throughout.
Praise for Compassionate and Dedicated Staff
Amber expressed immense gratitude for the neonatal team, highlighting the exceptional care and compassion shown to her entire family. "I can’t thank the neonatal team enough; it was like a little family," she said. "You see the same nurses, and even when they were on a different rota, they would still pop their head in to see how we were doing."
She particularly noted the impact of one nurse, Andrea, who taught her how to breastfeed and helped build her confidence ahead of Jude's discharge. Amber added, "We’d be there from early morning and sometimes until 2am, depending on if Jude was having a good day. I never once felt like I was intruding. Leaving him was the hardest, but every single person in the unit went above and beyond and made us and Jude feel special."
The unit's parent app also proved invaluable, sending updates and photos of feeds and nappy changes to Amber and Josh when they couldn't be physically present. "I’m so grateful we had that," she remarked.
A Joyous Homecoming and a Drive to Give Back
Reflecting on the moment they were finally given the green light to take Jude home, Amber described it as "so special." Jude, like other babies leaving the unit, was given a little graduation hat, and his name was added to the NICU graduate's wall.
Now thriving and described as a "happy baby," Amber says she never imagined, in those early days, that they would be able to bring Jude home. "Every single person went above and beyond; he’s where he is today because of them," she affirmed.
Inspired to give something back, Amber and her colleagues at Hays Travel in Redcar organised a charity coach trip to York to raise funds for the neonatal unit via Our Hospitals Charity. Through ticket sales, bingo, and raffle prizes generously donated by local businesses, an impressive £900 was raised.
Colleagues Rally Behind a Heartfelt Cause
Louise Dixon, branch manager for Hays Travel Redcar, commented, "Each year, we hold a charity event to support a cause close to our hearts, and this time we chose the neonatal unit. The care Amber, our assistant manager, and her family received was exceptional. We’re delighted they’re doing so well. We will always be grateful for the compassion, expertise and support provided during such a critical time."
How the Charity Supports Neonatal Families
Thanks to the kindness and generosity of its supporters, Our Hospitals Charity assists babies and families in several meaningful ways, including:
- Creating a tranquil and relaxing outdoor space where people can take a break from the busy ward environment.
- Supporting special occasions in hospital such as Easter, Mother’s and Father’s Days, and Christmas.
- Providing keepsakes for families of babies who have sadly passed away.
- Refurbishing family rooms to improve comfort and facilities.
- Funding Mini Boos for parents and their babies. These are small comfort blankets used in the neonatal unit to aid bonding, attachment, and even milk production by transferring scents. They come in pairs—one for the parent and one for the baby—and are exchanged frequently so the baby has the smell of their mother in the incubator.
- Offering vCreate, a free, secure video messaging service which allows staff to record and send pictures and video updates to parents, helping to minimise separation anxiety for families.
