Blood let baby bloom

Jaime and Peter Shurmer were about to celebrate their third wedding anniversary in 2011 when the Community Newspaper Group reporter, 23 weeks pregnant, was diagnosed with pre-eclampsia.

The potentially fatal condition increased her blood pressure, and limited baby Mikaylah’s blood supply. Over the next few weeks, Jaime was hospitalised twice.

The second time, doctors told the couple to prepare for a caesarean section and Mikaylah might only have a 50 per cent chance of surviving: but movement on an ultrasound won them a last-minute reprieve.

‘Every day you can keep her in makes a huge difference. That’s what we focused on,’ Jaime said.

‘I got sicker and sicker, and had to lie on my left side constantly to improve blood flow to Mikaylah ‘