Family backs research to tackle premature births

Elsie Wescott spent more than 200 days in intensive care

A family whose child was born prematurely at 23 weeks is backing a study to prevent others going through the same experience.

Chris and Debi Wescott's daughter Elsie was born in Brighton and spent 211 days in intensive care as she developed complications with her lungs, heart and eyes.

Although Elsie is now a happy two-year-old, the Henfield family is backing research from University College London (UCL) to develop an antimicrobial therapy to help prevent preterm births in women who are considered high risk.

Mr Wescott said: "Any research and anything that we can do to help others that might be in a similar situation to us, of course we fully support."

Elsie was given a 1,000-1 chance of surviving

Charities Action Medical Research and Borne are funding the research as they say evidence suggests in some pregnant women bacteria can pass into the womb, triggering inflammation and increasing the risk of early labour.

The aim is that new therapy will boost the effectiveness of specialised antimicrobial proteins, already present in the cervix, to help reduce the risk of preterm birth.

Ms Wescott said when Elsie was born at the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton she was told her chance of surviving was 1,000-1.

"Although Elsie is doing well and is walking and talking, I am concerned about having another premature baby," she added.

Elsie is now a happy two-year-old

Mr Wescott said: "You are thrown into a whole new world that you have got no experience with and in addition you are thrown into it a lot earlier than you expect, so you have to try and adapt and deal with it as best you can."

Borne says one in 13 babies are born too soon and there has been no decline in preterm birth rates in the last decade.

Ms Wescott said: "Her skin was just so transparent and red, it's a memorable moment.

"It's not how you expect the first time you see your child to be at all."