A premature baby who weighed just over 1lb has taken the internet by storm after sweet photos showed him filling out his babygrow that was once too big.
George Kirwan, who is now six months old, was born at 28 weeks and weighed just 1lb 7oz.
The little lad’s mum, Chloe, had a pretty difficult pregnancy after she suffered a bleed at 18 weeks and then caught Covid-19.
She and husband Nicholas were told their baby would have to be delivered early after a scan revealed that he had stopped growing and could potentially have a blockage in his bowels that could diagnose him with cerebral palsy.
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After he was born, George spent two months in the neonatal ward in Great Western Hospital in Wiltshire, and after nearly 10 weeks in hospital, he was finally healthy enough to go home.
Speaking of her son, the 33-year-old mum said: “We named him George as it was the strong name that represents the journey he went on the first two months of his little life and boy does he live up to it.
“At points, we thought he might not make it but he's so strong-willed and has proved any worries wrong every step of the way.”
What was once his very large, very oversized babygrow gifted by his uncle Paul, is now the perfect fit as George’s weight hit a healthy 11lbs 5oz.
“We're so proud of how far he's come after a few really scary months in hospital. It's amazing to see his playful personality developing and how much he fills the babygrow that once swamped him."
Chloe and Nicholas have been trying for children for the past three years before little George came along and changed their lives.
After multiple disappointments as well as painful fertility procedures, including a laparoscopic ovarian drilling which is a surgical technique of puncturing the area surrounding the ovary, they were finally thrilled to discover that they were expecting in August last year.
“I couldn’t believe it when I found out I was actually pregnant,” she said. “Nicholas was still asleep so when I went crying into our room waving the test, it took him a minute to understand what was happening but, of course, he was thrilled.”
And after confirming the results at least nine times via nine different pregnancy tests, Chloe and Nicholas told their family and friends about the happy news.
Despite there being some terrifying ups and downs during the pregnancy, on Monday 31st January 2022, baby George was born via c-section at 7.10pm.
“When we were able to see him, he was given to us in plastic wrap to keep him warm. He was so tiny, he had to be placed on my chest and I gave him a kiss on his head before he was put in an incubator.”
And after being well looked after by NHS staff, when he showed amazing signs of improvement, the little family were allowed to go home to start their new chapter together.
"He's so smiley, just how a little one is supposed to be. He loves books, turning the pages, listening to us read to him and looking at the pictures,” Chloe said.
"We met in our local rugby club in Swindon, now we have our own little star."
Nasima Khatun