Winner: University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust

At just under 27 weeks pregnant with twins, Claire Parry was sent to hospital with a suspected chest infection. There she was tested for pre-eclampsia and diagnosed with HELLP syndrome. This is a combined liver and blood clotting disorder that can affect pregnant women and occurs where red blood cells break down, proteins become high and the platelet count is low. As platelets are needed to help the blood clot, she was given a platelet transfusion. The recognised course of action with HELLP syndrome is to deliver the baby quickly so Claire underwent an emergency C-section to deliver both babies safely.

Jessica weighed only 2lb 2oz at birth and her twin Lucie just 1lb 4oz. Both had a long hard struggle, were on oxygen, had numerous transfusions, laser eye treatment and suffered various setbacks. Finally, after 117 days in hospital, Jessica went home and, two weeks later, so did Lucie, still on oxygen.

Winner: King’s College Hospital, Maternity Unit

Told that their unborn baby was suffering from Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia, Lucy and Richard Howells made the brave decision to undergo ground-breaking foetal surgery at King’s College Hospital and also turned to Ronald MacDonald House in Camberwell for help and support.

At 25 weeks keyhole surgery was performed under local anaesthetic: a small balloon was inserted into their baby’s wind pipe to try and help his lung to grow. Seven weeks later the balloon was deflated and Lucy and Richard were given the news that the procedure had been successful. Lucy says “We were over the moon but we knew there was still a long road ahead before we could be sure of our baby’s survival.”

Lucy spent the rest of her pregnancy in hospital and gave birth naturally to Charlie on 12th May 2010 who was immediately taken to Intensive Care. He was only two days old when he was operated on to repair the hole in his diaphragm and reposition the organs within his abdomen.

Charlie is now two years old. Speaking of their experience Lucy says, “Babies diagnosed with CDH only have a 50 percent chance of survival after undergoing
foetal surgery and Charlie was one of the lucky ones and for that we thank the entire team at King’s College Hospital.”

Winner: Southern General Maternity Unit

Shona Fairie experienced the devastating trauma of three miscarriages before finally giving birth to her much longed for daughter. Before conception, thorough investigations were carried out to determine the reasons for her history of miscarriages. So when she became pregnant again, once more Shona received excellent care and support from the Southern General Maternity Unit and, despite some complications, managed to carry her baby to thirty-seven weeks.

The labour was long and the baby distressed but the medical professionals reacted promptly to successfully deliver baby Beth. “I honestly feel like I was really taken care of and that the maternity team went the extra mile,” says Shona.

Winner: Princess of Wales Hospital Neonatal Unit

Having just been diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis, Victoria Shaw was surprised and delighted to discover she was pregnant.

Because of her condition she was closely monitored and when scans showed a loss of fluid and a problem with the blood flow to the placenta, she was immediately brought in and swiftly taken to the maternity ward.

After a foetal monitor detected problems with the baby’s heartbeat, Victoria was quickly rushed into theatre for an emergency C-section. 11 weeks early and weighing only 1lb 14oz, baby Maisy spent the next six weeks on the special care unit where the staff took great care of her and her anxious mum.

Sadly, just as she was due to go home, Maisy got a stomach infection and spent a further ten days on ICU. A week before the original due date, immensely happy mum Victoria was able to take her “little miracle” home.

Winner: Warrington and Halton Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust – Warrington Maternity unit

After five gruelling rounds of IVF and a miscarriage, Diane Mantle was thrilled to find she was expecting twins in 2007. She immediately started suffering from extreme morning sickness and was hospitalised twice. This was only the start of her problems – a scan showed that one of the babies only had one kidney, Diane herself suffered a collapsed lung and shockingly, at 32 weeks, a heart attack. Yet, despite everything, at thirty-four and a half weeks she had a planned C-section and Millie and Jesse were safely delivered.

 The twins are now 4 years old and Diane is full of praise for Warrington Hospital. “I still can’t believe sometimes I got there in the end and the care and support I received from Warrington maternity was first rate.”

Winner: University Hospital of North Durham Maternity Unit

Katherine Smith was pregnant with her first child, when scans showed that his bowels had formed outside of his body indicating the need for immediate surgery at birth. A scan at thirty-five weeks gave her the further bad news that his heart rate was not very good either. That same afternoon, following pains, she was admitted to hospital for a series of tests and ended up being taken into theatre for an emergency C section. Shortly after he was born, baby Dominick was transferred to another hospital for his essential surgery.

The maternity staff reassured and compassionately supported her throughout the dramatic series of events and Katherine says they “made a very emotional scary time for me easier and I appreciate  everything they did for me.”

Winner: Birmingham Women’s NHS Foundation Trust Maternity and Neonatal Intensive Care Units

Amanda Swindle had already suffered one tragedy when life-threatening pre-eclampsia had meant inducing her 24 week old baby, Erin, who tragically only lived for ten days. The following year Amanda was pregnant with twins.

Given her history she was monitored vigilantly. Unfortunately at 22 weeks pre-eclampsia returned and she was admitted to hospital. Following a scan at 24 weeks which showed severe complications for one of her babies, Amanda underwent a C-section. Toby was born weighing 550g and Lauren 449g.

At less than a week old Toby was rushed off for emergency surgery and Lauren sadly passed away. After a series of setbacks Toby gradually improved and finally went home at seven months. Amanda wrote “He is a little miracle with everything he has been through and I owe my life and Toby’s life to this great hospital.”

Winners: Royal Derby Hospital Maternity Unit

Mum of two, Eleanor Roberts, had a very difficult third pregnancy. She started bleeding at 20 weeks and spent the next seven in hospital being closely monitored. “As
the days went on and I was still bleeding I made myself prepare for the worst,” she explained.

She was allowed home for Christmas but that things took a dramatic turn that evening when she started having contractions. Back in hospital, she seemed in danger of rupturing her uterus and was rushed off for an emergency C-section. Her baby, Conall (which means ‘strong’), was wrapped up in plastic and whisked away.

The following weeks were very challenging but 12 weeks later, on Mother’s Day, Eleanor was able to take her baby boy home at last.

Winner: Hinchingbrooke Hospital Maternity Unit

Louise Mossman has no doubts that she owes her life to the staff involved in her care when she severely haemorrhaged after giving birth to her daughter Evie.

She was 41 weeks pregnant when she had to be induced. However during labour she was diagnosed with pre-eclampsia, carefully monitored and put on a drip. After a successful birth she suddenly felt unwell and lost consciousness. But, thanks to the prompt intervention of the medical professionals who rushed her into surgery and the expert care she received in intensive care, she was soon happily reunited with baby Evie and nursed back to health.

Winner: Oliver Fisher Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Medway Hospital

Joanne Day woke up one morning to discover she was rapidly losing fluid. She was just 26+4 weeks pregnant
with identical twins. A scan showed one of the babies was losing his amniotic fluid and the situation became very tense. Joanne was swiftly put onto steroids to help develop the babies’ lungs and thankfully two days
later Harry and Joshua were delivered by emergency C-section.

The twins, weighing just 2lb 4oz and 2lb 6oz, were immediately put onto ventilators and given blood transfusions. Over the rocky weeks that followed Joanne wrote “the doctors at the unit were absolutely fantastic and always one step ahead.” Twelve weeks later she was able to take Harry and Joshua home. “I will always be grateful for what they did for my boys and me at the hospital.”

Winner: St Mary’s Hospital Maternity Unit, Isle of Wight

After trying to conceive for four years and a miscarriage, Jane Clark was overjoyed to be pregnant but suffered a heart-breaking loss when her waters broke just eighteen weeks into her pregnancy and her baby passed away.

Too distraught to see her daughter initially, she received amazing support at the hospital from caring bereavement staff who made sure she was able to say goodbye to her daughter when she was ready to do so.

Not long afterwards Jane was surprised to find she was pregnant again. Terrified of losing the baby, the pregnancy quickly became “a nightmare”. At 21 weeks she had to
have a cervical stitch and when, at 36 weeks her blood pressure became high there was no other option but to be induced. Despite a brief initial stay in NCIU, baby Elsie
was soon able to go home to her adoring family.

Winner: Princess Alexandra Maternity Wing, Royal Cornwall Hospital

Lisa Moran had two complicated pregnancies but two happy outcomes. 20 weeks into her first pregnancy, a scan revealed a large fibroid below her uterus and
placenta praevia (when the placenta grows in the lowest part of the womb (uterus) and covers all or part of the opening to the cervix). At 24 weeks she was admitted with contractions, then again at 33 weeks and ended up spending the last few weeks of her pregnancy in hospital. At 37 weeks she had a C-section and her baby Piran was
born.

Her second pregnancy followed a similar pattern with the added complication of placenta acreta (when the placenta attaches deeply into the wall of the womb). The
medical professionals kept a close eye on her throughout and she was admitted to hospital at 29 weeks due to pain from her fibroid and again at 34 weeks, once more
remaining in until she gave birth at 36 weeks. Because of the danger posed by placenta acreta, her C-section was carried out in the main operating theatre by an expert
team and everything went well. Unfortunately baby Connor subsequently developed breathing difficulties and bronchitis and was taken to the neonatal ward where he was expertly nursed back to health. Lisa has no doubts who to thank for her two beautiful sons and is pleased to be able to sing the maternity team’s praises for all to hear.

Winner: Craigavon Area Hospital, Maternity Unit

Janice McCarron had what she describes as “an incredibly difficult pregnancy”, at high risk of a premature delivery yet she “always felt in safe hands” at Craigavon Area Hospital and the staff always ensured that she felt that her opinions mattered. Her baby, Alice Angela, was born five weeks early and spent a few days in neonatal care. Janice is full of praise for the medical team. “I strongly believe the special care that Alice and I received in those early days helped to build the bond we enjoy now.”