'I was devastated to leave my premature baby behind'

When Amber Webster fell pregnant with her first child, she could never have imagined she would be giving birth at home nine weeks early with just the help of her husband.

But baby Jude needed specialist care in hospital and when the time came to leave him there, the new mum said she was devastated to be returning alone.

"The day I got sent home, I was beside myself and I was crying - I really didn't want to leave," the 29-year-old said.

"Never in a million years did I think I'd have a baby and leave him at the hospital. No mother ever thinks that's even an option."

She said nurses at Middlesbrough's James Cook University Hospital were reassuring and encouraged her to download a specialist app, which she said made a world of difference in the 22 days Jude was there.

The technology, which is also used by other NHS neonatal units, enabled her to get updates every three hours from staff, meaning she would always know how Jude was doing, if he had eaten - and how much - and if he had cuddles.

"Waking up in the middle of the night, I'd check my phone and there'd already be a message there waiting for me," she said.

"I never had to chase it and it's just that sense of security. It sounds crazy, but you feel that bond straight away and having to leave him, I felt like the worst person in the world."

Staff at the hospital also ensured the new parents were not missing out on any of Jude's milestones and waited for them to be visiting for things such as bath time and wearing clothes for the first time.

Amber, from Middlesbrough, said nurses were surprised at how well she was doing after going through the shock of giving birth suddenly at home.

In July, she believed she was experiencing Braxton Hicks contractions, which can be felt during pregnancy but do not mean labour has started.

Just a couple of hours after being sent home from hospital, she went into labour suddenly while in the bath and felt the urge to push.

An ambulance was called, but paramedics arrived two minutes after Jude was born, weighing just 3lb 6oz (1.6kg).

"We didn't have time to think, we just had to do," Amber said.

"My husband was panicking, bless him, but he did everything that [ambulance call handlers] told him to - he was really, really good."

Amber said hospital staff were surprised to see that Jude had no difficulties breathing, but he needed extra care having arrived early.

"He was all strapped up on the monitors in an incubator and he just looked so small, I was just in shock," she said.

She was initially told they would not be able to take Jude home until September, but they were able to surprise family by taking him home a month early.

"I surprised my mum and dad when we got home and they were crying and I was crying - it was very emotional."

Jude, who is about to turn six months, is thriving.

"He's hitting all his milestones, he's doing really well," she said.

Her colleagues at Hays Travel in Redcar, Teesside, where she is an assistant manager, were inspired by her experience to raise money for the neonatal unit via Our Hospitals Charity.

They raised £900 with a charity coach trip to York through ticket sales, bingo and raffle prizes donated by local businesses.

Louise Dixon, branch manager, said: "We will always be grateful for the compassion, expertise and support provided during such a critical time."

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