An Airdrie mum gave birth to her first baby daughter 13 weeks early - and a year to the day she tragically lost a son during pregnancy.
Elizabeth Cummings says the remarkable coincidence is “fate” and that tiny tot Myla was “sent to them” by her late baby boy Lyam.
The 33-year-old, who is mum to three other boys, had just paid tribute to little Lyam on the anniversary of his passing, aged just 23 weeks, when Myla decided to put in her early arrival.
Elizabeth, of Calderbank, told Lanarkshire Live : “Myla arrived so early because I had an incompetent cervix.
"After what happened to Lyam last year, I was getting scans every three weeks and, on July 21, we were actually going to a wedding and I had my make-up and everything done when I got a scan and was told I had to go to Wishaw General as it came to light Myla was coming early.
“Two weeks later I was supposed to be in Greece to be a bridesmaid at a wedding but was told I wasn’t allowed to fly.
“They kept taking me into the hospital to keep an eye on me and it was actually on the first anniversary of Lyam’s death that I went into labour.
“We had bought flowers that morning and were walking back from the crematorium when I said to Jamie, ‘this is it’.
“I then went to hospital straight from the crematorium. It was as if Lyam was saying, ‘they’re going to struggle today’, and sent Myla to us.
“Last year we were in such a dark place that we thought we’d never get out of and now we have our first wee girl.
“She’s definitely been sent by Lyam. Myla is defiant and is already sucking a dummy, which we’ve been told she shouldn’t be doing at this stage.
“My sister likes to follow NASA and what is going on with the stars and on the day Lyam passed away, the posted a photo of a blue star in the sky, and then when Myla was born they posted a picture of blue and pink stars side-by-side.
“It gives you goosebumps, especially as Myla wasn’t just a couple of weeks early; 13 weeks is really early.
“Myla is an anagram of Lyam and we chose her name months ago for that reason.”
Myla was born at Wishaw General Hospital on August 6, weighing in at only 2lbs 11oz - around 7lbs lighter than her brothers.
Her early birth came a year after Elizabeth suffered what no parent should have to endure - the loss of a baby.
Elizabeth explained: “I was still pregnant with Lyam when he passed away at just 23 weeks.
“He had hydrops fetalis, which is a build up of fluids, and then suffered heart failure.
“They did all sorts of tests, including DNA, but still don’t know what caused it to happen.
“I was really ill throughout the pregnancy and Lyam was never going to make it.
“We had a funeral; picking a coffin out for your baby is something I would never wish on my worst enemy.”
Elizabeth, husband Jamie and their sons Rhys, 13, Dylan, 10, and Corey, three, are hoping to welcome Myla home very soon.
Elizabeth said: “She is doing brilliantly. She was off the oxygen and ventilator within 24 hours and will be moving into special care as soon as possible.
“She is on air flow just now to help her lungs and she keeps pulling the tube out! She’s already a wee drama queen.
“We’re hoping to have her home soon. My youngest son is three and while we’re in and out of the hospital, we have to try and keep his routine as normal as possible too.
“The staff in the hospital are all excellent; they keep us up-to-date with everything Myla has been up to.
“The family are all thrilled by Myla’s arrival. The first week everyone was walking on egg shells and, being the oldest, Rhys is asking when she will get home and how she is.
“There’s a worry on everyone’s shoulders from what happened to Lyam and we just can’t wait to welcome Myla home.
“The kids get in to see her every day and Corey tried to take her out of the incubator one day as he thought it was time for her to come with us!
“I’m not sure what it will be like when Myla gets older, though; God help the boyfriend she brings home, having to face three older brothers!”
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