Understand
Mum joins call for blood donors after small transfusions save premature baby's life
Overview
A mother from Falkirk whose premature baby daughter's life was saved by two blood transfusions is urging people to donate blood as supplies face a significant drop. Millie was born three months early weighing 1lb 8oz and received two 23ml transfusions at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow. The Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service is encouraging more people to book appointments as fewer than 2% of people in Scotland regularly give blood.
Key points
- Caitlyn Stewart's daughter Millie was born three months early weighing 1lb 8oz (670g).
- Millie received two 23ml (three tablespoons) blood transfusions while spending 10 weeks in the neonatal intensive care unit at Glasgow's Queen Elizabeth University Hospital.
- The first transfusion transformed Millie's health after just four days, restoring her energy and colour.
- Millie is now nearly eight months old and her mother credits the blood donors with saving her life.
- The Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service reports a significant drop in supplies and is urging people to donate, noting that fewer than 2% of people in Scotland give blood regularly.
- Hospitals in Scotland require about 450 blood donations every day, and blood has a short shelf life of 35 days.