When Tiny Legs Cause a Tiny Surprise
Nur Fadhillah had a front‑row seat to her son’s first moments, and the first thing that struck her was the miniature size of his legs. At five days old on April 3, 2015, the baby was still on life support in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at KKH.
A Little Giggle‑Pain from the Get‑Going
- She braced herself for a familiar “cubby‑chubby” baby, but was in for a shock.
- “His thighs were practically the index and middle fingers squeezed together,” she told AsiaOne.
- Born at just 30 weeks – six weeks early – his tiny frame made hospital gowns feel like a one‑size‑fits‑everything tuxedo.
Life Support and Baby‑Size Diaper Dilemmas
To protect him, nurses poured tubes into his nostrils, covering most of his head. The smallest diaper on the market was thick enough to reach his chest, because the baby was literally weighing about 1.2 kg – barely a bag of rice.
Holding an Activist Baby in Your Arms
In most first‑time moms, seeing a baby in an incubator can be heart‑breaking. But Fadhillah resisted the urge to sob in front of Matiin.
A doctor whispered a strange but wise secret: “Babies pick up on our emotions. If you cry, they’ll feel your sadness, fear, and uncertainty.” Knowing this, she urged crying outside the room so her son could experience only the best vibes – joy and love.
Pod of Happiness
She and her husband made a pact – they’d become the two happiest idiots in the NICU whenever they stepped in. That was the hyper‑optimistic cover story that kept Dallas airport’s rejection rate flat for the next 50 years.
So, tiny legs, huge love, and a very optimistic approach – that’s how Nur Fadhillah welcomed her son to the world.
Prematurity: A Whisper of Tough Childhoods
Did you know that in the bustling world of newborns, one in ten babies is arriving a tad early? The World Health Organization says about 15 million kids— yep, that’s a whole herd—were born “premature” this year. At K K H, the Ministry of Health reports that in 2017, roughly 3,500 little bundles (or one in eleven) made their grand entrance prior to the full eighteen months of gestation.
Let’s Talk Survival Odds
- Before 24 weeks: Less than a 50 % chance of making it through, according to research from the University of Utah.
- The earlier a baby arrives, the steeper the challenge of long‑term health.
The Early Bird Baby Club: More Than a Support Group
Meet Fadhillah, a proud mom of two and a seasoned veteran of the Early Bird Baby Club, a place where parents and healthcare heroes team up to tackle the preemie journey. Launched back in 1997, the club pulls together parents who’ve had premature babies and a crew of volunteer nurses, neonatologists, medical social workers and allied health pros from K K H’s Neonatology Department.
Mark Your Calendar: Can You Do It? It’s Just a Zoom Ping!
On Nov 25, the club will tele‑call everyone via Zoom to celebrate Prematurity Awareness Month. Tune in, because the World Prematurity Day is coming up on Nov 17 as well.
Why We’re Gathering
- Share stories: “Hey, you’re not alone in those sleepless nights.”
- Pay tribute: Fadhillah is shining a spotlight on the staff who guided her through the maze of worries when she birthed Matiin six years ago.
“I still smell the kindness in the nursery. Those nurses and doctors made sure the tiny Matiin received up‑to‑the‑minute love in those first six weeks,” Fadhillah says, with a fond, almost tearful smile. “It’s something I’ll never forget.”
If you’re a parent, or just a curious soul, join the conversation. Sometimes, the most heartening moments are found in the chatter of a video call or the comfort stories shared over virtual coffee.
Dead silence at the operating theatre
Fadhillah’s Unexpected Motherhood Roller‑Coaster
Picture a calm, steady pregnancy – that was Fadhillah’s life up to the 29th week. Then, out of the blue, the back gave her a beat‑up that left her in the hospital. Her doctors chalked it up to the baby doing its turning dance; classic maternity drama.
Blood Pressure Gone Wild
But the real plot twist? Overnight, her blood pressure shot up to a staggering 180 – a monster compared to the “healthy” under 120/80 mmHg benchmark.
When a Seaman Hides in Egypt
While Fadhillah, who had already faced a miscarriage heartbreak, waited in Singapore, her husband Ifwalmi – a 36‑year‑old seaman – was out in Egypt, juggling sea contracts and seven months of distance.
I didn’t want him to come home: “Just stay away, I feel fine.” I thought I’d be out of the hospital in no time.
Emergency Caesarean: A Silent Birth
Things went from “chill” to “emergency” when, by the 30th week, doctors decided it was safer to cut for an early delivery. Here’s what she didn’t get to see:
- The moment my little one left the operating table – a quiet hush, no cries, just a flick of lights.
- The beep of a white plastic wrap, emphasizing the tiny weight of a preemie, smaller than a fist.
“They told me that Matiin is “out,” but they’d have to head him over to the NICU because he’s, well, tiny.”
Husband’s First Peek
When Ifwalmi finally swung into Singapore, he watched the tiny miracle outside the theatre. He remember it like this:
- The baby was wrapped in chilled plastic.
- He could see his own reflection – it was the size of his palm from head to toe.
Wrap‑Up
So, from a “normal” pregnancy to a blood‑pressure blah‑blah emergency, Fadhillah’s journey topped off with a silent birth, a terrified husband, and an NICU that saved a little life. It’s a story that proves the mother‑to‑be part of one big, unpredictable adventure. Stay tuned for its heartwarming sequel!
Lots of self-blaming and guilt
Fadhillah’s High‑Dependency Adventure
Picture this: a mother-to-be named Fadhillah drummed up a quick tour in the High Dependency Unit (HDU) after her pregnancy stumbled into the rare yet dangerous territory of eclampsia – think seizures and runaway blood pressure.
“One Day at a Time” Philosophy
During those tense nights, every time she asked the doctors, “Is he going to survive?” or “Will his early birth leave lasting marks?”, they’d simply reply, “Let’s take it one day at a time.” The hush‑hush counsel was comforting, yet, honestly, it felt a little like waiting for your favorite pizza shop to announce a new menu.
Saint‑Sighing with Premature Perils
After a whole five days in the HDU, Fadhillah finally saw her little champ, Matiin, in the NICU. The guilt trap was immediate: “I must have been over‑over‑working; that’s why my blood pressure shot up.” Self‑blaming was the headline for the first year of Matiin’s life.
It took doctors and social workers holding hands (well, not literally) to convince her that a premature birth is at least a rare episode – not the result of some silent lurking flaw.
From Guilt‑Gurus to Preemie Pro
Despite continuing doubts, Fadhillah turned the entire scale on – she became the premier preemie parent. She clocked into:
- Kim’s “Infant CPR” (yes, we’re talking heart‑burn 101).
- Tube‑tips (how to replace feeding tubes without a circus act).
- Shower sanity for preemie babies (because who doesn’t enjoy a rain‑dance with a tiny infant?).
Walking the Garden of KKH
She was discharged after a week, but the next six weeks found her strolling the KKH courtyard like a GPS‑less tourist, eyes shut, because she’d practically memorized the round‑about corridors.
Between giving up on a “perfect” normalcy, Fadhillah’s story is a wild tumble that ends in a triumphant, baby‑loving renaissance. It’s not just a tale of surviving HDU, but a behind‑the‑scenes look at how a mother can re‑engineer her life with humor, perseverance, and a cup of coffee.
From Little Bundle to Big Kid: Matiin’s Journey of a Premature Legend
Birth Was the First Chapter of an Unexpected Adventure
When Matiin arrived on the scene six years ago, he was as tiny as a pin cushion—just 30 kg at birth—making him the heavyweight champ of his kindergarten class today. Fadhillah, his proud mom, has always kept it real with her little champion: “He was too eager to see the world, so we sent him early.”
- He was swaddled in plastic and fitted with tubes, a common rite of passage for babies born small.
- Despite the clip‑on gear, Matiin never knew the future challenges he’d face; he’s still blissfully unaware.
- Mom’s plan? Keep the mystery alive until he’s old enough to understand—and who can blame her?
Mom’s Comic-Drama: “Why My Baby Was Wrapped Like a Gift”
During picture‑book time at school, a curious Matiin stared at his own glossy birth certificate and whispered, “Why was I so tiny and all wired?” Fadhillah, full of parental bravado, replied, “You were chosen! Born too small, but that’s your power.”
Graceful “Detour” Through KKH: A Real‑Life Superhero Training Camp
After her tumultuous first pregnancy, Fadhillah entered KKH—a daycare that’s actually a frontline for premature kiddies—and found her role as a mom and a teacher perfectly jammed together.
- Learning the fine art of pumping blood and never losing hope.
- Receiving top‑notch support for both mother and child, ensuring both stay strong.
- When she dropped her second bundle in February 2019, she thought, “Here we go again!” but was already a seasoned pro.
“Because It Was Meant to Be” – A Mother’s Insight
Fadhillah laughs now, saying her first premature son “was destined for the battlefield.” She tells her kids, “It worked out fine. No long‑term scars. Matiin dead‑poured through life like a normal kid.”
Final Takeaway: From Plastic to Playgrounds
Thanks to the caring hands at KKH and the pure determination of a mother who turned a “mini‑mega‑class” into a normal kid, Matiin now stands tall—and the story, once a whisper, turns into laughter during school playgrounds.
Read More: True story: My child weighed just 850 g, born prematurely at 26 weeks – and is a healthy teen now
