Tiny treasure in mum’s arms

On January 2, Jazmin Michele Westergreen was born via caesarean at 25 weeks gestation, weighing only 360 grams.

She is believed to be Tasmania’s smallest single-birth baby.

Miss Watters and her partner, 24-year-old George Town man Sam Westergreen, have been on an emotional rollercoaster since their precious daughter’s birth.

Miss Watters’ high blood pressure escalated during her pregnancy, reaching dangerous levels at 20 weeks.

The couple travelled to the Royal Hobart Hospital when Miss Watters was 25 weeks pregnant.

She was diagnosed with pre-eclampsia, a serious condition with symptoms including high blood pressure and severe fluid retention.

‘‘After I was in hospital for all of two days, they had a scan done on my stomach and she wasn’t growing and there was barely any fluid around her,’’ Miss Watters said.

‘‘They were very worried that she was going to die.

‘‘It came down to them saying, ‘the best thing we can do is do an emergency caesarean and hope for the best’,’’ Miss Watters said.

Initially told that Jazmin had about a 70 per cent chance of survival, the couple were told to prepare for the worst before the caesarean.

But baby Jazmin defied the odds, amazing her parents and medical staff with her strength.

‘‘We were told she was too small, and that she wouldn’t cry, and that when they got her out she probably wouldn’t make it,’’ Miss Watters said.

‘‘But they cut me open and pulled her out and she cried three times.

‘‘Just hearing her cry, it made me think – this kid is so strong.’’

Miss Watters and Mr Westergreen were deprived of the moments most parents immediately cherish with their newborn – the first embrace and the chance to pore over the details of tiny Jazmin’s face.

After the caesarean, Miss Watters was whisked into recovery, and Jazmin was taken to the Neonatal Paediatric Intensive Care Unit.

‘‘It was two days before I could even get out of bed to go and see her,’’ Miss Watters said.

Jazmin was placed in the NPICU under constant observation in a humidicrib on oxygen.

Mother and daughter shared their first embrace on February 12, and a ‘‘kangaroo cuddle’’, or skin-to-skin hug, about a week later.

‘‘The first time I ever held her ... it was very emotional,’’ Miss Watters said.

‘‘After waiting for six weeks, I was getting so apprehensive, like ‘when am I going to hold my baby, I just want to hold her’.’’

Only recently have Jazmin’s comprehensive assessments been moved from a daily to a weekly basis.

Despite this, Jazmin will be in the Royal Hobart Hospital until at least April with her parents at Ronald McDonald House across the road.

Future physical and mental complications are possible and Jazmin will have ongoing assessments.

The couple said the support they had received from friends, family and medical staff had been invaluable.

‘‘Without them I don’t think we could get through this as easily as we have been,’’ Miss Watters said.

‘‘You couldn’t ask for better staff, you just couldn’t,’’ Mr Westergreen said.

The couple have started a crowdfunding campaign to assist with ongoing expenses arising from Jazmin’s medical conditions. Donations can be made at: https://www.gofund me.com/6meagzdt.