hope & prayers please, james christopher, new micro prem

missy - 08:45pm Dec 18, 2004 EST

hi nz calling. yesterday i went out christmas shopping, leaving my partner home with his flatmate, maxine, who was 27 weeks. on arrival home i found a major emergency. maxine had been restless, withdrawn & uncomfortable. my darling man had been chatting online, asking advice. i am an ex ambo, and on finding out that maxine was experiencing period like cramping, called an ambulance fast!!! the ambulance arrived, and it was decided it looked like labour. i went with maxine in the ambulance, while dan got hold of maxine's hubby, rangi, and drove him to the hospital. on the way to the hospital, maxine's waters broke, & the contractions really kicked in. by then max was starting to panic!! we arrived at the hospital & max was quickly transferred to delivery, and the neonate team called. maxine had been doing very well, progressing nicely with an epidural for pain relief, when baby started showing signs of distress. rangi couldn't cope with the idea of theatre, so stayed in the waiting room, with dan. i was showen where to change, and went to theatre with max. james christopher was born at 6:13pm, nz time. he gave a tiny cry and was whisked off to be ventilated. he weighs 1 pound 6 ounces, and is 12 inches long. we are all in a state of shock, and currently very frightened for baby jamie, and his chances.