A sudden early arrival
Sophie Partlow was preparing dinner one evening last November when severe abdominal pains prompted an urgent hospital visit. What seemed like a routine check turned into a dramatic delivery.
Magnolia Day Partlow was born a year ago to the day, on November 15th, 2023, at just 23 weeks and 5 days gestation – 114 days early.
Racing against time
"The midwives tried to halt my contractions while my husband Chris rushed home for supplies," Sophie recalls. "But Magnolia had other plans." Active labor lasted just five minutes before Magnolia arrived in a feet-first breech position, weighing only 600 grams (1.3 pounds). To this day, doctors don't know why she came so early.
A journey through multiple hospitals
Within hours of birth, Magnolia was transferred to St. Peter's Hospital in Surrey, a Level 3 facility four hours away. The extraordinary PANDR ambulance team managed multiple transfers: from St. Peter's back to Ipswich after about five weeks, and between Ipswich and Addenbrookes in Cambridge for ROP (Retinopathy of Prematurity) eye surgery. The family's NICU journey would span 111 days.
Family strength
Sophie and Chris Partlow were no strangers to the NICU experience. They had adopted their daughter Cloud at just two days old when she was born at 32 weeks, spending two months in hospital care. But nothing could have fully prepared them for Magnolia's extreme prematurity.
The challenges stacked up quickly. Chris lost his job right around Christmas. Sophie, an American adjusting to life in Britain, was still recovering from a broken leg from a fall one month prior. Through it all, they had to maintain a sense of normalcy for their 5-year-old daughter Cloud while spending countless hours at multiple hospitals.
One of the scariest moments came when Magnolia experienced a brain bleed during her stay at St. Peter's Hospital. "Our relationship was definitely put to the test," Sophie reflects. "But we persevered and have all come through as an even tighter family unit."
The Partlows found strength not just in each other, but in the extraordinary medical team supporting them. "The kindness of each and every single staff member – from the dinner ladies and custodians to the nurses and consultants – was incredible," Sophie says. "I was just as well looked after as my baby."
A fellow parent's words in Surrey became their mantra during the difficult days: "This is such a crazy roller coaster, but I'm so grateful to have a ticket to ride!"
Hope for other families
Sophie offers crucial advice for expectant parents, emphasising that preterm birth can happen to anyone – even though she doesn't smoke or drink and had seen her midwife the very afternoon she went into labour:
Trust your instincts and seek medical attention if something feels wrong
Prepare a hospital "grab bag" from around 22-23 weeks of pregnancy
Remember that preterm birth can affect anyone
Looking forward
Magnolia's original due date was March 8, 2024, but she's already celebrating her first birthday today with a traditional smash cake celebration, while also raising awareness for World Prematurity Day on November 17, 2024.
The NHS has featured Magnolia's story in an educational video about preterm birth, aimed at helping other families who might face similar circumstances.
For more information on preterm birth, visit: https://maternity.sneewellbeing.org.uk/your-birth/preterm-birth
