Media Release
Date: 15 November 2023
Mum thanks RUH's neonatal team for its incredible care
A new mum has thanked neonatal staff at the Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust for their 'incredible care' after her baby was born nearly 10 weeks early.
Loki Dolman, who weighed just 799g when he was born, was delivered by emergency c-section because of reduced movements.
He was in the hospital's Dyson Centre for Neonatal Care for 62 days and was diagnosed with chronic lung disease and intrauterine growth restriction, which meant he was smaller than he should have been at that stage of pregnancy.
Loki's mum, Lauren Cox, from Calne, said: “Even with his difficult start he has been a little fighter and made it out of the neonatal unit on oxygen.
“The time in the unit was scary, but also an amazing journey. Each week there were different examinations and procedures, but every day I was still able to care for Loki by changing his nappies, feeding him and having skin on skin contact.
“Loki is now five months old and weighing 4.3kg. He has recently come off oxygen and is thriving, showing us the chatty, cheeky boy he is today.
“If it wasn't for the amazing staff at RUH who made the quick decision for an emergency c-section and provided the incredible care they did, it could have been be a very different story.
“A huge thank you from us to everyone in the neonatal department at the RUH for giving Loki the best start in life and for the incredible amount of support and care you have given us.”
Kirstie Flood, Lead Nurse, Dyson Centre for Neonatal Care, said: “We are delighted that Loki has made such fantastic progress and is such a healthy, happy boy.
“We are so proud of all our neonatal staff and the incredible work they do every day.”
Lauren's story coincides with World Prematurity Day (Friday 17 November), an annual event to raise awareness of premature birth and the impact it can have on families. To mark the date, the RUH's main hospital building, as well as the neonatal care unit, will be lit up purple.
The RUH's neonatal unit provides care for premature and sick term newborn babies. Approximately 10% of all babies will need admission to a neonatal unit, commonly because of prematurity, infection, breathing difficulties or feeding problems.
The unit has 21 cots, and facilities for parents including four double en-suite bedrooms, a breast milk expressing room, a parents' coffee room, quiet room, a play area for siblings and a garden.
You can take a virtual tour of the unit on our website.
For support and advice about premature birth, visit the Bliss charity website:
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