In 2013, Nicola's world was turned upside-down when she lost her newborn baby girl. Hope was delivered at 22 weeks, but did not survive. Nicola and her husband John were absolutely devastated. But the couple was shocked again when they heard what doctors had to say.
Doctors diagnosed Nicola with an "incompetent cervix," a condition in which the cervix is not strong enough to hold an unborn baby — a baby that could literally fall out of the mother's body and be delivered too soon.
Nicola discovered she was pregnant again, this time with a boy. Instead of elation, the anxiety and panic kicked in; Nicola blamed her own body for the loss of Hope, and feared it would only happen again. So, at 14 weeks pregnant, doctors sewed one single stitch around Nicola's cervix to support the weight of her son. One single stitch could prevent him from dropping out of her body. Without that stitch, doctors said the baby could fall out at any time.
And that one single stitch did exactly what it was supposed to do. Baby Jesse was born via C-section at 33-weeks and six days weighing a tiny 4 pounds, 8 ounces. He is now four-weeks old. Nicola credits the successful delivery of her son to that one stitch which allowed her to carry Jesse up to 33 weeks.
With their miracle baby safe and sound, Nicola and John plan to tell Jesse about his big sister Hope every day.
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In 2013, Nicola suffered a miscarriage that devastated her and her husband, John. Baby Hope was delivered at 22 weeks, and the couple was about to receive another shocking blow.
Doctors diagnosed Nicola with an "incompetent cervix," meaning her cervix is not strong enough to hold an unborn baby. When Nicola discovered she was pregnant again with a boy, she feared tragedy would strike.
At 14 weeks pregnant, doctors had a game plan. They sewed one single stitch around Nicola's cervix to support the weight of her son and prevent him from dropping out of her body. Without that stitch, doctors said the baby could fall out at any time.
And that single stitch did exactly what it was supposed to do. Baby Jesse was born via C-section at 33-weeks and six days weighing a tiny 4 pounds, 8 ounces.
Jesse is now four-weeks old. Nicola credits the successful delivery of her son to that one small-yet-mighty stitch, which allowed her to carry him up to 33 weeks.
Kate Pinney, Midwifery Manager at Tommys.org, says, "When a normal pregnancy reaches full term the cervix shortens and dilates to allow the baby out. When this happens in the second trimester, without labour or contractions starting, it's called cervical weakness. If your cervix is found to be getting shorter you may receive a cervical stitch to help keep the cervix closed. This is normally put in between 12 and 24 weeks of pregnancy and is usually removed at 37 weeks so you can give birth. If you go into labour before then, it will be taken out immediately."
With their miracle baby safe and sound, Nicola and John plan to tell Jesse about his big sister Hope every day. "Hope's death wasn't in vain," Nicola says. "She helped her little brother survive against the odds."
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