Baby Michael, who weighed just 4lb 6oz when he was born, and his mum JustineCHIPPENHAM NEWS EXCLUSIVE: A MIRACLE baby boy born seven weeks prematurely after his mother died three times on the way to hospital has defied medics who feared he would not survive.

Mum Justine Elliott, of Hamilton Drive, Cepen Park, Chippenham, collapsed on New Year's Day suffering critically high blood pressure and fits.

Heavily pregnant, the 33-year-old was brought back to life three times in an ambulance taking her to the Great Western Hospital in Swindon.

Once at the hospital, doctors carried out an emergency caesarean, telling her family it was likely either she or her baby would die.

Despite the ordeal baby Michael survived the birth, weighing 4lb 6oz, and spent the next five days in an incubator.

Mrs Elliott, who also has a six-year-old daughter, arrived home on Wednesday following life-saving treatment and two days spent in intensive care.

Speaking about the experience, she said: "They put me in the back of an ambulance, and on the way to Swindon I 'crashed' three times.

"The doctors had to revive me three times and when I got to the hospital they took me straight to surgery and delivered Michael 15 minutes later.

"They told my mum that they had to deliver the baby straight away to save one of our lives.

"They said they were hoping that at least one of us would come out of the ordeal alive."

The mother-of-two felt sick and collapsed at her parent's house in Malmesbury on New Year's Day.

Her father took her to a doctor and paramedics decided she had to get to hospital. It was not until three days later that the mother and son met for the first time.

She said: "When I came round I didn't realise what all the fuss was about.

"I didn't see Michael for three days. A nurse brought him in from the baby care unit. It was a surreal moment. He didn't feel like mine to start with because I was so out of it after all of the drugs I was given.

"But it was a very special moment. He's fine now and learning to feed.

"They took Michael to the intensive care unit when he was born and he was in the incubator for five days and on a respirator for two days.

"I had to have a general anaesthetic so it would have passed into Michael's bloodstream.

"They were very concerned when he was first born because he had all the drugs used to try to save my life, but they knew what they were doing.

"He's quite a strong baby and he's pulled through and doing well."

His parents now hope Michael will be home before February 11, the day he was due to be born.

Mrs Elliott works as a deputy manager for Thornton's in the Borough Parade shopping centre in Chippenham. Her husband Karl works for the Joint Support Unit based in Corsham.

She said: "Karl has been absolutely great. He's been like a rock to me.

"I've had so many cards I have got the windowsill covered in them."

Michael Adam Daniel Elliott was born at 1.15pm on New Year's Day weighing 4lb 6oz. His older sister Amelia chose the middle name Adam.

wtimes@newswilts.co.uk