West Lothian mum 'terrified' as tiny baby born three months early 'fights for life'

Kat and Graham with their son Jay
-Credit: (Image: Kat Lauren Stone)


A young West Lothian mum is 'pleading for prayers' after giving birth at just 25 weeks.

Kat Lauren Stone, 23, was diagnosed with preterm premature rupture of the membranes (PPROM) which can cause early birth and brings a higher risk of infection. She gave birth to Elijah James Michael Tait on September 21 at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, almost four months before his due date.

Described as a micro preemie baby, due to being born before 26 weeks, Elijah has been in neonatal intensive care since. With two other children at home, Kat and her partner Graham Tait, 28, have said they "don't know how to feel".

READ MORE - Heartbroken Scottish son who lost dad to suicide set to walk 13 hours to grave

READ MORE - Nicky Campbell's former Edinburgh school considers ban on bats used to hit him

The tiny baby was born weighing just 1.9 ounces. Kat told Edinburgh Live: "I was 25 weeks pregnant, at 19 weeks I was diagnosed with PPROM, so my waters had burst.

"When my waters burst, by rights the baby is meant to come within that week. We were told to prepare for the worst.

"I was going to St John's Hospital in Livingston for monitoring. The baby hung on to 20 weeks, with just 25ml of fluid.

"At 20 weeks, he lost all fluid. There was no protection around him, both him and me were at high risk of infection."

The micro preemie baby was born at just 25 weeks
The micro preemie baby was born at just 25 weeks -Credit:Kat Lauren Stone

Elijah managed to hold inside the womb until 25 weeks. On Friday, September 13, Kat was rushed to St John's by her partner. She was only there for an hour before being blue lighted to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh.

She continued: "They were preparing to deliver at the Royal because I was in labour.

"They managed to stop labour, and I was let out on September 15. I was going to my usual appointments. Then on September 20, I was blue lighted to the Royal again.

"I was in labour all night, 24 hours, and they couldn't see any sign of dilarting. They had me on everything, but nothing was working."

Sign up for Edinburgh Live newsletters for more headlines straight to your inbox

Kat then went to the toilet and could feel Elijah's head. Her partner checked, and ran to get the midwife.

She continued: "The midwife got me back on the bed and checked, turns out my cervix wasn't dilated or open.

"After being checked I turned to get some sleep, I put my hand down and there was the head. My partner panicked, before I knew it there was around eight doctors in the room."

Kat and her partner had to stay as calm as possible while the baby was delivered. Elijah was born "sunny side up", also known as occiput posterior (OP) position, where the face is looking up. Only around five per cent of babies are born in such a way.

She added: "As he was born, he was rushed away to resucitation.

Elijah James Michael Tait was born on September 21
Elijah James Michael Tait was born on September 21 -Credit:Kat Lauren Stone

"I unfortunately had retained placenta, the cord had snapped in half. I lost 1500ml of blood, and was rushed into surgery.

"I had to have a blood transfusion due to losing 40 per cent of my blood. I can't remember that much, but the baby was completely critical when born.

"He had flatlined and his heart had stopped. He came back around, Wednesday came and the baby was showing he was just too weak and giving up."

Kat and Graham were again told to prepare for the worst. She told us: "He was in a really bad way.

"Within five hours he managed to bring himself around a bit. It has been touch and go since.

"Saturday was the first good day he has had. Now he's critical, but stable.

Join Edinburgh Live's Whatsapp Community here and get the latest news sent straight to your messages.

"He's opened his eyes slightly for the first time."

While dealing with her emotions, Kat is also trying to keep her two other children safe and calm. She continued: "Jay, he is six years-old, he isn't taking too it too well. Delilah, who is 10-months-old has just been really unsettled due to the situation

"I don’t know what to feel. I am quite low and emotional, and it was a traumatic labour.

"I just want to cry. It’s a lot to deal with, I still haven't managed to get any midwife check overs after having the baby due to being with him, as he is more important.

"I’m terrified. We come all the way from Livingston, as St John’s doesn’t take baby’s under 32 weeks.

"He deserves every prayer, and credit for his fight already."