The Brock family’s story
A journey of care, support, and involvement
“Oliver is our second IVF baby. We knew from the start that our pregnancy would be high risk and going into labour was a possibility—we thought maybe 35 weeks… but that wasn’t the case.”
Samantha shares her family’s journey in the Neonatal Unit at Milton Keynes University Hospital (MKUH)—a journey filled with unexpected challenges, but also incredible support and care that made all the difference in Oliver’s fragile early days.
29 weeks
At 29 weeks, I went into spontaneous labour and Oliver was born via emergency c-section.
The NNU team were with us in theatre and provided treatment to Oliver straight away to assist his breathing. Dad (Craig) was able to see him and take his first photos before Oliver was speedily whisked off to the unit for additional treatment and support.
Building special bonds
I couldn’t see Oliver until mid-morning the next day, and seeing him in the incubator surrounded by wires and machines was overwhelming. However, the nurse caring for him was very supportive and reassuring, patiently explaining what the wires were and how he was doing.
During our time on the NNU, every nurse would make sure we were involved as much as possible. They trained us on how to feed him through his tube and, although it may seem odd, even taught us how to change his nappy while navigating the wires and monitors. These small actions helped significantly with the bonding process.
Since Oliver spent a lot more time on the unit than most, 8 weeks in total, we became somewhat part of the NNU family, supported not only by the doctors and nurses, but the entire team, including those working in other essential roles.
A reason to give back
Visiting the unit daily meant we spent a great deal of time with the staff, getting to know them on a personal level.
Craig and I saw firsthand the immense challenges they faced, but also witnessed the sheer dedication to providing the best possible care, not just for the babies, but for the families too.
It was this sense of support and belonging that made our NNU journey that little bit easier and as such, inspired us to give back and help the unit in some way. So we decided to make a donation to Milton Keynes Hospital Charity for the Neonatal Fund.
We chose to deliver our donation in person so we could reconnect with the team who played such a large part in the first weeks of Oliver’s life. It was important to us to express, face-to-face, just how much we appreciate the amazing work they do.
