Baby Archie faced a range of health issues, including cerebral palsy, after being born nearly three months early.

Weighing just 1lb 7oz, making him one of the smallest to be delivered at Medway Maritime Hospital, he spent his first 11 weeks in the special care unit.

Now three years old, Archie is happy and healthy.

Mum Emma Counsell, 37, from Strood, had been expecting twins but one died at 19 weeks. Under close medical scrutiny, she was administered magnesium sulphate which aims to reduce cerebral palsy in premature babies by helping to protect the brain.

The neonatal and maternity teams at Medway hospital are celebrating a successful programme, ahead of World Cerebral Palsy Day which starts on Sunday,

Babies born before 37 weeks are at higher risk of developing cerebral palsy, a lifelong condition affecting movement and coordination caused by a problem with the brain occurring before, during or after birth.

Although being born prematurely does not mean a child will develop cerebral palsy or any other health issues, nearly half of the children who do develop cerebral palsy are born prematurely. In the UK around 60,000 babies are born prematurely every year.

The Preventing Cerebral Palsy in Pre-Term labour programme (PReCePT) is a national programme which aims to increase the uptake of administration of magnesium sulphate as a neuro protector.

Miss Counsell, of Laburnum Road, said: “I had not heard about the programme and was not aware it was relatively new.

"I certainly would recommend it to anyone else in the same position. So far Archie has had no problems health-wise.”

Consultant neonatologist Dr Helen McElroy said:

"The PReCePT programme aims to increase the number of eligible women who are given magnesium sulphate to 85%.

"Before Medway hospital joined the programme in September 2018, around 70% of eligible women per year were receiving treatment.

“Since joining the programme this has increased to 88% and our aim is to exceed 95% by 2020.”

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