Tiny Lives

At University Hospital Wishaw, a team of highly specialist staff provide round-the-clock care to some of Scotland's most fragile babies. This series follows the stories of babies born prematurely at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic in Scotland. Some of these newborns are at the edge of life and we see the emotional journey their parents go on just to take them home.

Alfie is born at 27 weeks after showing signs of distress in the womb. His lungs are not yet ready to breathe on their own and a ventilator is keeping him alive. Alfie's parents didn't expect him to arrive for another three months and face a long and uncertain journey as they adapt to life with a baby in neonatal intensive care. The neonatal unit's senior midwife is faced with added pressures as the pandemic impacts staffing in the unit and a premature baby is isolated due to Covid.

At University Hospital Wishaw, a team of highly specialist staff provide round-the-clock care to some of Scotland's most fragile babies. This series follows the stories of babies born prematurely at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic in Scotland. Some of these newborns are at the edge of life, and we see the emotional journey their parents go on just to take them home.

The neonatal team are in theatre for the delivery of baby Harrison. Born at 25 weeks, Harrison stops breathing soon after delivery and needs emergency resuscitation. And the team steps in when one family is left struggling to visit their baby in the unit.

Born at just 24 weeks, baby Michael is four months premature. His eyes are still fused shut and his lungs are only half grown. He is at the limit where babies can be born prematurely and still do well. For Michael and his mum and dad, it is a long road ahead as he learns to breathe without support. The unit celebrates World Prematurity Day, and the babies receive gifts from a local volunteer.

There is a new arrival in the unit's intensive care ward. Baby Roman is six weeks premature and struggling to breathe on his own. As the team focuses on getting Roman well enough for home, his mum Claire is encouraged to get involved in her baby's care. First-time mum Kirsty shares her experience of losing her baby Ava at just five days old and the support the unit offers for bereaved families.