Livia with her partner Shane and Lowyn

When Lurgan This year, as woman Livia Jarzebska struggled with her high-risk pregnancy, she was told to “let nature take its course.”

She endured months of hardship and stress, compounded by daily uncertainty about her baby’s health and recovery.

Against all odds, however, on April 7, 2024, her baby boy, Lowyn McMahon, was born at 27 weeks at Craigavon ​​Regional Hospital.

A premature baby is considered any baby born at less than 37 weeks.

Seven months later, Livia describes Lowyn as her “little miracle” and says she is proud to have fought for so long, even though she was told he was unlikely to make it.

Today, in an effort to raise awareness during Prematurity Awareness Month, Livia is keen to share her story and raise awareness of an issue that she believes is simply not being addressed.

Recounting this period of her life, she explained: “Lowyn was born at 27 weeks plus four days. During my pregnancy, I experienced pelvic pressure pain very early on.

“At my antenatal appointments I had my cervix measured and when I was about 21 weeks pregnant my cervix measured 2.6cm.

“My consultant at the time wanted to extend my appointments to monthly, instead of bimonthly, and we didn’t agree. I just knew there was something wrong and a week later when I came back for a check-up I was 0.9 cm. I was also channeling at this point so was admitted to Craigavon ​​the same day for a cervical stitch.

“The next morning, before I had a check-up, I was checked by another consultant and I was down to 0.6cm again. At this point everyone thought I was in labor and it was too late for the cervical stitch.

“Instead, I received an Arabin pessary. I was informed that there wasn’t enough research to suggest it would work and everyone thought I was in labor. The doctors were not willing to give me steroids because of the baby’s gestation at that time.

“I was given pamphlets about the mortality rate of a baby born at that time and I was also given the choice of either comforting my son or trying to save his life. Obviously, no mother is ready to hear these words which still haunt me today.

The same day, Livia was taken to the Royal Victoria Hospital where she spent almost five weeks in bed. At 26 weeks she started contracting.

“I just knew I was in labor. I was in so much pain,” she recalls. “The contractions started after 10 minutes, then seven minutes and the doctors thought it was a urinary infection or because I was in the been reading for so long.

“I just knew my own body. Then, at 27 weeks, I was transferred to Craigavon ​​as the neonatal unit there is able to take babies from 27 weeks.

“I knew my water had broken, but the test always came back negative. On April 6, my water completely broke and I gave birth naturally the next day. My birth experience was quite positive and I found myself skin to skin with my son at 27 weeks, which is absolutely exceptional.

Livia says her biggest advice to women going through what she experienced is that if they think something is wrong, get it checked out.

“I sometimes felt like I was overreacting because no one was listening to me. Everyone thought it was this or that and no one takes you seriously.

“My advice is if you feel like something is wrong, go and get it checked, no matter how small you think it is, because it could save your baby’s life.”

Lowyn McMahon was born at Craigavon ​​Regional Hospital at 27 weeks

After the birth, her son spent 92 days in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), which Livia said made him feel a range of emotions. His advice? It’s okay to be angry.

“Usually when you give birth, you take your baby home and start a new life. I went 92 days without my son being home. He was in the hospital and we had to watch him in an incubator.

“I was afraid to touch him and I struggled with it for a few weeks. I was angry with myself; I felt like I wasn’t doing a good job. I felt so helpless that I gave birth to my son and couldn’t even take care of him. That’s when the nurses came in and said I was a good mother and it was okay to feel this way.

“I was so worried that sometimes I didn’t know if I was going or not because of all the anxiety. I was living in fight or flight mode but now it’s been seven months. As far as milestones go, it’s been four months, but he’s thriving. He’s doing everything he should be doing, and I think about that woman who was freaking out and it’s incredible.

Livia says she wants mothers to know that their emotions and experiences are all valid and nothing to be ashamed of.

She said: “It’s a traumatic experience to see doctors helping your son and not being able to help him. You have to sit and watch, and you will mourn all that you have lost and have not experienced.

“I gave birth and had to leave my baby in the hospital and then had to go home alone, so you have mixed emotions.

“You can be grateful that you have a child, who is alive and showing progress and at the same time, you can still feel the grief and anger that it’s not the way you wanted it to be.”

She added: “Some days are more grateful than grief, or there are days where grief can seem to drown out gratitude, but I just wanted to make you realize that your experience and emotions are valid and meaningful.

“I want to honor the babies who show us how to fight and teach us that small victories really are the big victories and proof that miracles exist. My son is living proof.

Looking back, Livia says she felt there was a lack of optimism or sensitivity to her situation.

“I think the healthcare system can be a little harsh. I was given leaflets about the mortality rate, and told that my baby might die and that the approach taken was very desperate, and it still haunts me.

“The way they talked to us at the hospital made it seem like he was never going to make it. We were told to let nature take its course and there were so many questions we couldn’t answer.

Although Livia felt like they “didn’t care” at the time, she says that “time has proven that miracles do indeed happen.”

With November being Prematurity Awareness Month, Livia wants to raise more awareness about this issue and the organizations that exist to help mothers cope.

On November 21, she celebrated with TinyLife at the Seagoe Parish Center in Portadown, a charity which provides support to families of premature babies.

She explained: “It’s a charity that has helped me a lot, providing emotional and practical support from the day and time my son was born.

“My partner and I did a baby massage course with them last week and it helped us bond with our son.

“I’m still a little anxious about bringing people over to my house because of what happened and all the trauma that comes with it and TinyLife has helped me.”

She added: “It’s all very traumatic, so it’s very important to talk to people and get involved in groups like TinyLife, because having someone there who understands this experience helps a lot.

“My main advice is if you feel like something is wrong, get it checked out. There will be lots of different emotions but having a premature baby is not the end of the world. You show how strong you are as parents.

“I’m seven months postpartum, but my son has been home for four months and I’m only starting to feel better. Now I feel more confident about leaving my house and doing things with my son and I feel like I haven’t missed anything.

“To think that my son was born so early and today he is a healthy, thriving boy is crazy. He surpassed all the predictions and all these things that people were saying and here he is.

“I’m so proud to show him that he’s here and you can’t even tell he’s premature. Throughout the journey, I fought my corner.

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