On May 11th, The Flying Crane was called to Paulton Birthing Centre to collect a blood sample to take to the Pathology Labs at the Royal United Hospital (RUH) in Bath for testing.

Later that evening the same call was received from Paulton. Another sample was required for the same baby. When I arrived at the hospital the Nurse called me in to see the baby. He was tiny, only five days old having been born at thirty six weeks, four weeks premature and he was jaundiced. I could see this when the Nurse who was holding him turned him round so that I could see him - his skin was quite yellow. Jaundice in newborns most commonly occurs because their livers are not mature enough to remove bilirubin from the blood and this is especially so in premature babies because their bodies are even less mature. The condition can cause babies not to feed properly and other medical problems.

The nurse explained that they needed to have his blood tested to determine how jaundiced he was so that they could identify the appropriate treatment.  It was possible that they would need to give him phototherapy treatment which helps to break down the bilirubin.  I took the baby’s blood sample, in a tiny tube only about 5cm long, to the Pathology Laboratory at the RUH. As I delivered the sample, one of the Laboratory Technicians who had been waiting for the sample, came and took it from me to start testing it immediately.

I called Paulton Birthing Centre the following morning and they were able to tell me that the blood tests had showed that the baby did indeed require Phototherapy and that he had received treatment using a Bili-blanket, a fibre-optic pad, throughout the night and that his blood would be tested again during the day.

This is a good example of how the Flying Crane directly helps the Hospitals and patients.  Without The Flying Crane, this baby’s blood sample would have had to wait until morning before it was even tested, but instead it was tested immediately and he received treatment much more quickly.

I am sure that Mum and Baby are both very grateful for The Flying Crane.