‘MY MIRACLE BOY ALMOST DIDN'T MAKE IT!'
Woman’s Day Magazine NZ|November 15 2021
Kiwi mum Rachel reveals how her premature son changed her life
Morgan Reardon
‘MY MIRACLE BOY ALMOST DIDN'T MAKE IT!'

When Rachel Friend fell pregnant, it was one of the happiest days of her life. Just six months prior, she’d survived a life-threatening cervical ectopic pregnancy, which claimed the life of her unborn child and nearly took her with it.

Already a step-mum to two boys, Rachel, now 47, and her husband Phil were thrilled to expand their brood. And despite the harrowing experience, the Auckland woman had gone through previously, this pregnancy, she was thriving.

“I loved being pregnant,” she smiles. “I had so much energy and felt the best I had ever felt.” But upon returning home from a Christmas camping trip to Papamoa in January 2013, “something just didn’t feel right”, recalls Rachel.

After a series of blood tests and scans showed nothing wrong, she was sent home. Soon, however, the pain became excruciating. “It was like someone was shoving a red-hot poker in my left-hand side,” she shares.

After spending several days in hospital, the pain getting worse every minute, Rachel’s waters unexpectedly broke at just 24 weeks. A terrifying and painful 12 hours later, baby Reuben was born, just 30cm in length and weighing a tiny 665 grams. “I called him my block of butter because he was that tiny,” she says.

Whisked offto the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), it would be hours before Rachel would see her miracle son for the first time, laying in an incubator, his eyes fused shut and his paper-thin skin so delicate, it would tear if you stroked him.

Bu hikaye Woman’s Day Magazine NZ dergisinin November 15 2021 sayısından alınmıştır.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

Bu hikaye Woman’s Day Magazine NZ dergisinin November 15 2021 sayısından alınmıştır.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

WOMAN’S DAY MAGAZINE NZ DERGISINDEN DAHA FAZLA HIKAYETümünü görüntüle
TREASURE & TRAUMA
Woman’s Day Magazine New Zealand

TREASURE & TRAUMA

The launch of the new season of Celebrity Treasure Island doubled as an eighth wedding anniversary celebration for contestant Millen Baird and his wife Siobhan Marshall, who came fourth on the show back in 2022.

time-read
1 min  |
August 31, 2024
JUDGE JAY-JAY
Woman’s Day Magazine New Zealand

JUDGE JAY-JAY

Radio diva Jay-Jay Feeney delivers her verdict on your biggest dilemmas

time-read
2 dak  |
August 31, 2024
CASEY'S BABY JOY 'OUR GIRL IS ALREADY SO LOVED'
Woman’s Day Magazine New Zealand

CASEY'S BABY JOY 'OUR GIRL IS ALREADY SO LOVED'

The Te Puke gym owner refused to let a devastating accident stop her from becoming a mother

time-read
3 dak  |
August 31, 2024
DEAD FUNNY! SHOSHANA'S GOING SOLO
Woman’s Day Magazine New Zealand

DEAD FUNNY! SHOSHANA'S GOING SOLO

The Emmy Award-winning writer is starring in a macabre new comedy

time-read
3 dak  |
August 31, 2024
TWO RAW SISTERS BABY MAKES THREE!
Woman’s Day Magazine New Zealand

TWO RAW SISTERS BABY MAKES THREE!

Rosa and Margo have a new cookbook and bundle of joy on the way

time-read
3 dak  |
August 31, 2024
HOME AND AWAY'S NEW MÃORI STAR
Woman’s Day Magazine New Zealand

HOME AND AWAY'S NEW MÃORI STAR

The son of a Kiwi sporting Legend, Cantona Stewart is making waves in Summer Bay

time-read
2 dak  |
August 31, 2024
TV STAR AIDEE 'THE NIGHT I ALMOST DIED'
Woman’s Day Magazine New Zealand

TV STAR AIDEE 'THE NIGHT I ALMOST DIED'

The actress and director opens up about her terrifying ordeal

time-read
3 dak  |
August 31, 2024
CARMEL SEPULONI  I'VE ALWAYS BEEN A FIGHTER!
Woman’s Day Magazine New Zealand

CARMEL SEPULONI I'VE ALWAYS BEEN A FIGHTER!

Our former deputy PM the lessons she's learnt in politics on CTI

time-read
3 dak  |
August 31, 2024
KENNEDY & SOLLY'S ROMANTIC RACE TO THE ALTAR
Woman’s Day Magazine New Zealand

KENNEDY & SOLLY'S ROMANTIC RACE TO THE ALTAR

The Black Ferns co-captain and her rugby star husband organised the ir nuptials in just five days!

time-read
5 dak  |
August 31, 2024
THE BRAD & GEORGE SHOW is back!
Woman’s Day Magazine New Zealand

THE BRAD & GEORGE SHOW is back!

Their lovable bromance is stealing the spotlight in Venice!

time-read
1 min  |
August 31, 2024