24 HOURS before her second son was born, Abbi Botting was Christmas shopping.

It was a fortnight before Christmas Day 2011 and the first Monday of Abbi’s maternity leave. Recent scans had revealed no cause for concern.

After a day shopping, Abbi felt some mild abdominal pain. Her midwife suggested taking paracetamol and getting some rest. She was later checked over at the Great Western Hospital delivery suite, but doctors were unable to find any problems.

“Suddenly, I had the feeling that my waters had broken but it was in fact severe bleeding,” said Abbi, now 42 and living in Abbey Meads.

She returned to hospital. Doctors said Abbi’s placenta had separated from the uterus too early. They prescribed steroids to strengthen her unborn baby’s lungs.

As Abbi’s condition worsened, a decision was made to deliver the baby by emergency caesarean section.

“To say my husband and I were worried is an understatement,” she said.

“24 hours previously and in the midst of Christmas shopping I could never have begun to imagine that a day later we would be the parents of a premature baby in an incubator in SCBU.”

Born two months early and weighing just three pounds, Thomas spent three weeks on the ward. Abbi, husband Mark and four-year-old son Samuel celebrated Christmas at SCBU with Thomas.

Backing the incubator appeal, Abbi said: “We will never forget that Christmas. The staff on the unit made what was a difficult time significantly more bearable and helped Thomas develop into the lovely little boy he has become.”

Now six-years-old and in Year 2, Abbi said Thomas was a feisty boy: “He’s done incredibly well. You could never know he’d been born as early as he was.”

To donate to the incubator appeal, visit: www.brighterfuturesgwh.nhs.uk or call 01793 605631.