Baby Archie hailed as miracle

A baby born at a Black Country hospital has been hailed a medical miracle after doctors saved his life by carrying out a procedure completed only eight times across the world.

Doctors at Dudley's Russells Hall Hospital feared the worst after Kelly Bradburn, aged 26, went into the later stage of labour just twenty weeks into her pregnancy with twins.

Sadly, Mrs Bradburn miscarried one of the twins but doctors in the maternity unit sprang into action in an attempt to stop her delivering the second one as well.

And their efforts proved a success when the 5lb 11oz healthy baby, to be called Archie, was born shortly before 8pm on Monday .

Dr Seela De Silva, obstetric and gynaecology consultant, carried out the rare procedure which involved a stitch being inserted into the cervix, which was fully dilated, to save the second twin from miscarriage.

Mrs Bradburn and her husband Martyn, from Perton, Wolverhampton, were warned there was a real danger of losing Archie - and even with the operation the baby only had a 50/50 chance of surviving.

"But when we realised we hadn't, Mr De Silva told us about a possible procedure which may save our second baby.

"We knew even if it was a little chance then we still had to go for it.

"I immediately went onto maternity leave and basically just sat on the sofa eating chocolate! I was told to chill out and take it easy.

"I had to come into the hospital twice a week for check ups.

"Both myself and my husband Martyn are extremely grateful to Mr De Silva, without him we may have lost Archie as well."

At 38 weeks, Mr De Silva removed the stitch and Archie was delivered following a normal uncomplicated delivery.

Mr De Silva said: "It was wonderful to deliver Kelly's baby and to know that both she and the baby are fit and healthy."

By Helen Cartwright