The husband of Channel Nine reporter, Sam Squiers, has candidly spoken about missing the birth of his first child, after his baby girl was born five weeks early in June via Caesarean.
Ben Squiers described the 49 days his newborn daughter Imogen spent in emergency care as either the ‘the longest short period of my life or the shortest long period of my life’.
Speaking on Mater Mothers, the Australian father recalled how his wife Sam, 35, went into early labour while he was out of the state on a work trip in Sydney.
Ben Squiers (pictured) spoke candidly about missing the birth of his first child Imogen
Both Sam and her newborn daughter needed emergency care after the premature birth
The TV reporter unexpectedly suffered a placental abruption – and was forced go into emergency surgery at 2.30am as her husband made a ‘mercy dash’ from the airport to the hospital.
‘I got on the first flight – I didn’t make the birth,’ Ben told the publication.
‘In the space of 15 minutes the situation changed from “we will wait for you, but we can’t guarantee it”, to “we can’t wait, Sam is going into surgery”.’
Twenty minutes after he learned his wife was going into labour alone, Ben received a text from an anonymous number – a picture of his newborn daughter.
‘I lost it! The poor lady sitting next to me had no idea what was going on,’ he said.
‘Those 35 minutes were the longest 35 minutes of my life. I felt helpless, anxious and a failure.’
Channel Nine reporter Sam Squiers (pictured) suffered a placental abruption and went into early labour in June
Ben and Sam (pictured) made the daily pilgrimage back and forth to the hospital during the 49 days Imogen spent in care
‘Those 35 minutes were the longest 35 minutes of my life. I felt helpless, anxious and a failure,’ Ben said of missing his child’s birth
When he arrived at the Brisbane hospital, Sam was in intensive care and hours-old Imogen was in a neonatal critical care unit (NCCU) with tubes attached to her tiny body.
He then learned Sam’s pre-eclampsia has caused her to lose her vision and suffer from kidney failure, leaving her only hours from death.
The next several days were spent with Ben darting between mother and newborn child, showing his wife photos of her darling daughter and comforting both as they recovered.
After Sam built up the strength to leave the ICU, the new parents then made a daily pilgrimage to the hospital for 49 days straight to visit Imogen and share ‘kangaroo cuddles’.
But Ben confesses he considers himself lucky to be able to spend those crucial weeks with his newborn, as many other fathers aren’t able to take the time off work.
The new father considers himself lucky to be able to spend those crucial weeks with his newborn, as many other fathers aren’t able to take the time off work
The TV reporter unexpectedly suffered a placental abruption – and was forced go into emergency surgery at 2.30am as her husband made a ‘mercy dash’ from the airport to the hospital
Sam gave birth on June 13, but suffered from pre-eclampsia which made her lose her vision and suffer kidney failure
Imogen (pictured) weighed only 1.3kg when she was born premature in June
The besotted parents were finally able to make the emotional journey away from the hospital to take their baby daughter home for the first time.
But the battles for premature babies do not end at the hospital.
Following months in an incubation cot surrounded by noise and lights, Imogen’s introduction to darkness and silence with only her parents around her was a tough adjustment.
‘We are still in the process of weaning her off the noise and lights. We are now used to sleeping with the lights on and falling asleep with the soothing sounds of Rockabye Baby,’ added Ben.
Ben and Sam have also had to learn how to set up oxygen for Imogen.
‘I look forward to the day that this is all a distant memory – but one thing is certain…the time spent in Mater Mothers’ NCCU is definitely a life-changing experience,’ he said.
‘We are still in the process of weaning her off the noise and lights. We are now used to sleeping with the lights on and falling asleep with the soothing sounds of Rockabye Baby,’ added Ben
Ben and Sam (pictured at her job as a Channel Nine reporter) have also had to learn how to set up oxygen for Imogen
After a harrowing 49 days Ben and Sam were finally able to take their daughter home