Meet Robyn, the Miracle Baby Born at 23 Weeks and Kept Alive in a Sandwich Bag

This story contains images and content that some may find triggering.

July 2023 marked the month that Welsh couple Daniel and Chantelle expected to deliver their first child, a little girl. However, baby Robyn had other plans and made a very unexpected early entry earthside on March 8th 2023, at just 23 weeks and 2 days gestation. She weighed just 328 grams and was placed in a sandwich bag to keep her vital organs warm while she grew.

She was the smallest baby born in Wales.

To put things in perspective, two large bananas weigh about 300 grams, just slightly less than what Robyn weighed at birth. She could easily fit in the palm of her parents’ hand, and future survival was uncertain.

Since her dramatic birth date, this brave little warrior and her family have been fighting daily. Robyn’s story is just incredible and we are so happy to report that, after 558 days in hospital, Robyn arrived home for the first time.

Have a read of Robyn’s incredible story so far, and be sure to follow her progress on Facebook.

Complications at 20 weeks 

During her 20-week ultrasound, Chantelle was informed that her cervix was slightly open and that she was at risk of pre-term labour. Chantelle was admitted to the hospital the next day and put on bed rest to prevent premature labour.

Just three weeks later, Chantelle experienced preterm premature rupture of the membranes (PPROM), and Robyn was born breach, nearly 17 weeks earlier than her due date.

Robyn was kept in a sandwich bag for survival. Source: Facebook

Placed in a sandwich bag

“A team of doctors got to work on her straight away,” Chantelle shared on Robyn’s Facebook page.  “She was intubated and placed in a sandwich bag to keep her vital organs warm. She was so tiny and could fit in the palm of our hand.

We were told Robyn may not survive. She was placed on the ventilator to help her breathe and had several lines and cannulas to give her fluids and medicine. She was placed under phototherapy lamps for jaundice. Her skin was almost translucent and had started to crack open on the creases.”

Although Robyn’s chance of survival was slim, she continued to fight with her parents by her side. During that first week, Robyn developed sepsis and was treated with antibiotics.

Robyn’s uphill battle

In the following weeks and months, Robyn had 16 blood transfusions, countless infections, lumbar punctures and blood tests. She also had EEGs, ECGs and Cerebral Function Monitoring following a seizure.

It took Robyn three months to reach 1kg in weight, as she continued her journey in the NICU.

She was so small she could not wear any clothes until she was 3 months old, even then they were too big on her.”

Robyn had been through more than most people will in a lifetime, with her parents experiencing the ups and downs of watching their daughter in the NICU.

At six months of age, Robyn had an MRI scan, which showed she suffered from hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) at birth. What this means is she has severe brain damage.

Her future development is unknown but it is highly likely she will be impaired in all domains including sight and mobility.”

Chantelle and Daniel continue to advocate for their daughter, and they believe that with the right therapies and treatment, Robyn will have a chance of improving.

Robyn goes home after 558 days 

Despite the challenges, Robyn hit a major milestone this month. After 558 days in hospital, she was discharged and is now home permanently. 

The last 18 months have been the most hardest and exhausting months of our lives. There have been many times we thought we would never get to take her home. So many times we thought this day would never come.”