A mother’s concerns for her baby were confirmed after doctors told her the placenta was bright green and he was born with a band around his head.
Maddicyn Brokenshire knew “something wasn’t right” 12 weeks into the pregnancy, believing her unborn child may have amniotic band syndrome.
Despite being an extremely rare condition, the 28-year-old’s fears were proved true by scans at the 19 week mark.
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At the time doctors encouraged Maddicyn and her husband Daniel Brokenshire to consider terminating their pregnancy.
“I could see something wasn’t right on the scan,” Maddicyn, from New Zealand, told Need To Know.
Ollyver moments after birth receiving medical treatment. (Picture: Jam Press)
“After doing my own research, I came across amniotic band syndrome.
“I was told by a specialist that it was extremely rare and unlikely.
“We asked for another scan and were then told the bands were free-floating.
“We continued to hear that until 33 weeks, when it was finally confirmed that the bands were attached.
“When they brought another doctor into the room, I knew it wasn’t good.”
The couple’s son, Ollyver James Ross Brokenshire, was born with amniotic band syndrome.
The rare condition is caused by thin, fibrous strands from the amniotic sac wrapping around developing fetal limbs, digits, or organs which restrict both blood flow and growth.
For the now eight-month-old baby, the bands had wrapped around his head – leaving doctors and nurses stunned.
The rare condition caused Ollyver to be unable to breathe after being born, requiring 11 minutes of resuscitation.
Maddicyn said: “They weren’t sure if he would make it.
“We were later told that if things had gone on another 24 hours, he likely wouldn’t be here.
“He had passed meconium and the placenta was the greenest they had ever seen.
“The amniotic bands in the membranes were very rare.”
Before giving birth to her son, Maddicyn had spent weeks in the hospital pre-eclampsia – a serious blood pressure disorder that develops 20 weeks into being pregnant.
Ollyver’s birth required an emergency C-section with his mother being extremely ill at the time.
She said: “I was extremely unwell.
“I couldn’t see properly, my vision was full of lines and I was constantly vomiting. Everything escalated quickly and I was rushed into theatre.
“Because of my allergies, I had a fentanyl spinal, which travelled up into my shoulders – I couldn’t even feel them.
“My blood pressure kept rising on the table and there was a real urgency in the room, with staff moving quickly to manage everything.
“When Ollyver was delivered, they explained to me what he looked like.
“I remember saying, ‘He doesn’t look as bad as I thought’, but I was so out of it and couldn’t see properly.”
The baby was quickly rushed to the NICU following the birth. While other mothers were able to hold their child, Maddicyn was left alone hooked up to machines.
Her husband stayed with the newborn and, thankfully, 16 hours later she was able to hold her miracle baby boy for the first time.
Maddicyn said: “I felt shocked, scared, and confused. His condition was more severe than expected.
“I was left alone in recovery, connected to machines, while other mums had their babies with them.”
Treatment for Ollyver began immediately, with one of the bands removed and his eye treated in the NICU.
Despite the trauma of the birth, seeing her child open his eyes for the first time actually made the mother giggle.
She said: “I actually giggled and said he looked like a little alien – it was a light moment in such a heavy time.
“Despite the challenges and uncertainty of the pregnancy, remaining hopeful and believing he would not only survive but also make a remarkable recovery was the key.
“We feel so incredibly blessed to have him.”
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