A Scots dad whose son was born at just 27 weeks is backing government legislation that will support parents of babies who require specialist care.
The Neonatal Care (Leave and Pay) Bill, introduced by Scottish MP Stuart C McDonald, has been backed by the UK Government and will provide parents with an additional 12 weeks of paid leave while their newborns are in hospital.
Gary Milligan, 33, and his wife Monica Sheen, 34, welcomed their son Alfie three months early, weighing just 1lb 6oz. Alfie spent nearly five months at the Wishaw Neonatal Unit before being moved to Queen Elizabeth University Hospital where he has since remained. The tiny newborn's lungs have collapsed and he has had to be resuscitated numerous times.
As their son fights for survival, lorry driver Gary says he has barely seen Alfie as he couldn't afford to take unpaid leave. The dad, from Wishaw, says he is trapped working 70-hour weeks to keep a roof over his family's head while mum Monica is planning to take unpaid leave from her job as an NHS nurse to be with their son full-time.
Gary told the Record: "Alfie has been resuscitated so many times since he was born eight months ago. We have no idea when we will be able to bring him home.
"Monica was on maternity pay but when that came to an end we had to decide if she should go back to work or if I should take unpaid leave to be with our son. I'm not able to take time off work, even if I wanted to because Alfie wouldn't have a home to go back to. We couldn't afford to pay for our mortgage.
"Alfie is very ill, and we've had to deal with the emotional and financial stress. It has been a nightmare.
"Monica is basically a single parent at the moment.
"I have been in some dark places over the last few months due to the pressure.
"People ask if we are coping, but I don't think we are. We're just existing right now."
Parents Lyndsey, 39, and husband Russell Petrie welcomed their son Adam at just 29 weeks in 2017. Tiny Adam spent the first four months of his life at the neo-natal unit at the QEUH in Glasgow.
Lyndsey, from Glasgow, said she was left by herself most days after her husband Russell had to go back to work after two weeks or take sick leave.
Lyndsey said: "I felt robbed of that time with my son as my maternity leave started as soon as he was born, although I couldn't bond with him. I just looked at him through a partition. It was difficult by myself as his life was hanging in the balance at that time.
"We couldn't take the financial hit so Russell had to go back to work. It was a very traumatic time and we didn't realise the psychological impact it had on us both until months later.
"It's very welcoming to hear parents will now get help as that extra time will compensate for what was lost. It is the right thing to do."
Once in law, neonatal care leave will be available to employees from their first day in a new job and will apply to parents of babies who are admitted into hospital up to the age of 28 days, and who have a continuous stay in hospital of seven full days or more.
The bill will also help employers who want to better support staff members whose children are receiving neonatal care after birth.
Stuart C McDonald, MP for Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and Kirkintilloch East said the new legislation will give struggling parents the support they need in addition to their maternity and paternity leave
He said: "No parent should have to choose between being with their premature or sick baby in neonatal care and having to return to work to earn a living; or enjoying the full benefits of parental leave and going back to work.
"With the cost-of-living soaring, it is more important than ever that we secure an urgent change in the law so that parents of babies in neonatal care get the paid leave and support they need at an incredibly challenging time."
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