A BABY born at just 23 weeks whose tiny hand was the same size as her dad's fingernail is now at home and thriving after 70 days on life-support.

Little "miracle" Elsie, now 10-months-old, was born weighing just 1lb 1oz when she arrived 17 weeks early at the Royal Oldham Hospital, Greater Manchester on June 17 last year.

Doting parents Katie and Rob Hampson's pregnancy had been fraught with worry after Katie began to bleed heavily on a daily basis a few weeks in.

The problem was diagnosed by doctors as a subchorionic hematoma, bleeding which occurs due to blood accumulating between the uterine wall and the outer foetal membrane – from the eighth week of her pregnancy.

Consultants scanned and monitored her during weekly appointments at Rochdale Infirmary.

Most subchorionic bleeds resolve on their own but for 27-year-old Katie the bleeding continued for 15 weeks.

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Doctors could do little to help Katie as they feared administering medication before her 16th week of pregnancy would affect her placenta and pose a risk to the baby.

At 22 weeks, Katie was admitted to hospital, Elsie later arrived prematurely at just 23 weeks but was tiny.

The labour was complicated by Katie experiencing a placental abruption – which occurs when the placenta separates from the inner wall of the uterus before birth.

Katie said: "Even when she arrived we didn't know if she would survive – she was so tiny and fragile."

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After Elsie's birth, the worried couple were unable to hold their newborn as she was taken straight to NICU and hooked up to a ventilator.

"I had to wait nearly five hours to see Elsie in the incubator and when I eventually did, I was still in shock.

"I didn't get to hold her.

"Her body was the size of Rob's hand and that photo of her hand against her dad's hand doesn't even show how small she was – her little hand was no bigger than his fingernail.

"She was so tiny but perfectly formed with her little eyelashes, fingernails and toenails. She was tiny like a little doll.

"I was so nervous and didn't know whether she would even survive.

"Her skin was practically see-through, and she was so small.”

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After the natural birth, doctors told Katie and partner, Rob, 32, a builder, that their daughter had just a one in four chance of survival.

But now tiny tot Elsie is home and thriving – weighing a healthier 13lbs 6oz.

Katie, a full-time mum-of-two, of Rochdale, Greater Manchester, said: "It was horrific because I just didn't know if I was going to lose Elsie or not.

"I was living with the unknown so I just couldn't relax or enjoy my pregnancy and even in hospital there was no guarantee she would be alive.”

Rob – dad to Madison, 12, from a previous partner and Poppy, seven, daughter to Katie – found out they were expecting their second child together in February 2021.

Katie said: "We were delighted when we found out we were having another baby.

"Rob and I couldn't wait to expand our family and give Poppy and Madison a little sibling."

The couple describe Elsie's next few weeks in NICU as a 'stormy ride'.

Katie said: ''It was a very, very difficult time for us.

''We just didn't know if she was going to pull through.

Her body was the size of Rob's hand and that photo of her hand against her dad's hand doesn't even show how small she was – her little hand was no bigger than his fingernail.

"A nurse even said to me that we had both gone through one of the most traumatic experiences she's ever seen on the unit."

Elsie was kept in the NICU on a ventilator for nearly 70 days.

Eventually on 30th October 2021 – nearly five months after she was born – Elsie had gained enough strength to return home for the first time.

Despite celebrating the milestone, Elsie's parents were cautious about caring for their tot on their own.

Katie said: "It was so lovely to welcome her home, but it was scary because for so many months, we relied on nurses and doctors.

"They were our comfort blanket and support system.

''But it feels amazing at the same time, some days we never thought we'd get to this point.

''Poppy is so good with her, she's a great big sister and absolutely adores Elsie, it's so cute to watch.

''Elsie is only just fitting into clothes for a three-month-old now.

"But they're still a bit baggy for her."

Katie revealed she couldn't be more grateful to the staff at the hospital for saving Elsie's life.

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She said: "The staff are real life angels.

"If it weren't for them, Elsie wouldn't be here.

"They should be recognised for the amazing job that they do. They saved my baby's life."

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