Ipswich ‘miracle baby’ Magnolia Day Partlow set to celebrate first birthday – after being born at 23 weeks

An American mum has praised the NHS for its support as her ‘miracle baby’, born at just 23 weeks and five days, prepares to celebrate her first birthday.

Magnolia Day Partlow, known as Day, was born on November 15, 2023, at Ipswich Hospital – weighing just 600 grams.

Despite doctors giving her a 14 per cent chance to survive birth, she fought on and is now developing into a healthy, happy young girl.

Mum Sophie Partlow, 42, who lives in Ipswich with her family, said: “Day was the most premature birth the hospital had experienced.”

She wished to share her story to highlight that premature birth can happen to anyone and urged new parents to be ready for it.

Sophie told SuffolkNews: “I’m not religious, but her birth was still a miracle.

“Her birth was scary stuff. She had bleeding on her brain and respiratory problems.

“When she came, I didn’t even know what I was experiencing was labour. I thought it was just round ligament pain, and even when I got to the hospital, they even said it was routine.

“It was when we did a cervical check, it was at that point we knew the pain I was experiencing was contractions. It was very frightening.”

Sophie moved to Ipswich from North Carolina two years ago. Her husband, Chris, is from the UK.

She currently hosts the Sex with Sophie podcast, which aims to teach people, and learn about, sex using data.

Sophie gave praise to the team of doctors, nurses and midwives at Ipswich Hospital – and the wider NHS – who leapt into action to save her daughter.

“Doctors gave me the odds and stated that certain things happening, such as her umbilical cord coming out or my water breaking, could reduce her chances of making it,” Sophie said.

“They even talked about giving me a C-section, which is dangerous at that stage of gestation as they have to go towards the top of the uterus.”

Day was conceived via IVF and was Sophie’s first birth. She described her as a ‘rainbow baby’ after losing another at seven weeks.

Sophie’s adopted daughter, Cloud, five, was also born premature, at 32 weeks.

She described the emotional few moments after her birth.

“I began to steel myself, told myself not to get too attached. Once she showed she wanted to fight, as soon as I heard her cry, that was it. She was mine at that point,” she said.

Shortly after her birth, Day was transferred to St Peter’s Hospital, in Chertsey, Surrey, where she would spend the next month before being transferred back to Ipswich, being released from hospital after a total of 111 days.

Despite a complicated start to her life, Sophie said Day was now a regular baby. No complications from her early birth have arisen yet.

Being born so early, Sophie said she was at risk of brain damage or learning difficulties but is currently fine. Her brain bleeding also cleared up.

However, Sophie said Day was the size of an eight-month-old baby, but should catch up at about the age of five.

Day even said her first word – ‘Dada’, Sophie said.

Day’s birthday falls just before World Prematurity Day, on November 17.

They will celebrate her big day with smashcake and are set to visit Ipswich Hospital.

Sophie’s message to those concerned about premature birth was: “To go ahead and get ready as soon as your baby reaches a stage of viability and be aware that it is a thing that can happen.

“It’s vital to understand what information is out there for parents. Some don’t factor in that you could have your baby way earlier than you anticipated.

“Unfortunately, Day was so early we didn’t have any kind of plan, nothing was ready, so once your baby reaches about 23 weeks, start preparing.”

For more information on preterm birth, visit this NHS site which features a video of Sophie’s story: https://maternity.sneewellbeing.org.uk/your-birth/preterm-birt

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