World Prematurity Day aimed to raise awareness of the 15 million babies who are born every year prematurely.

One Chappel mother has shared her experience of giving birth to her twins two months early - and their struggle for survival.

CHELSEA Smith first knew something was wrong when she was at her sister’s wedding.

She was 30 weeks pregnant and expecting twins.

She had had a good pregnancy but from out of the blue, she began to feel unwell.

“I started feeling very dizzy and my vision was very blurry.

”I just put it down to being tired after a long day but that night I didn't sleep as I felt so rough and was just getting worse.

"The next morning I went into triage at Colchester General Hospital.

“They did a urine sample and blood tests and sent me home.

“The first thing the next day I got a call from a doctor saying they needed me to go back in urgently.

“When I got there, the staff did more blood tests and said I had pre-eclampsia and wasn't allowed home until I'd had my boys.”

Pre-eclampsia can lead to severe complications for the baby and mother if it is not treated.

Chelsea added: “I was admitted into the Lexden ward where all the midwives were amazing.

“Every day I was getting worse.

“I was so swollen and started getting nose bleeds so by the next day my consultant said they needed to deliver the babies.

“I was put on magnesium sulphate for 24 hours, had steroid injections and was moved into a delivery room where I could get one to one care.

“On May 15, at 31 weeks pregnant, my beautiful boys were delivered by Caesarian section one minute apart."

The boys weighed 3lbs 8 ozs and 4lbs 3ozs."

Chelsea said: "They were taken straight to intensive care and I still had to do another 24 hours on the magnesium sulphate so I didn't get to see them until the following day.

“I was so scared, we all were, it was the most worrying time ever.

“Those first 24 hours were the worst. I just didn't know what was going to happen and I kept thinking the worst.

“Both boys needed help with breathing and were in incubators for a little over a week."

The twins, Lenny and Ethan, had jaundice, suspected sepsis, respiratory distress and both had a long line in place and an umbilical vein catheter.

They were kept in hospital for four weeks before they could be taken home.

Chelsea, who works as a care assistant, said: "All staff at Colchester hospital neo-natal intensive care unit were absolutely amazing and did a brilliant job of keeping my boys going.

“Leaving Lenny and Ethan every evening was the hardest thing ever and it never got easier but I knew they were in the best hands and were being looked after so well.

“They made me and my boyfriend, Sam Williams, feel so welcome and helped and supported us the whole way through. I can't thank them all enough.

“Also the community outreach team who came to visit us at home every other week for the next three months."

Chelsea and Sam are now settling into their hectic routine of caring for the twins who are now six months old.

Chelsea said: “Lenny and Ethan had a rough start and then had colic, reflux and a dairy allergy to deal with, but now are the happiest and healthiest little boys and we are all so proud of them.

“They are our little fighters.”

World Prematurity Day was supported by the charity Bliss which supports families which premature babies.

Premature birth is the birth of a baby at less than 37 weeks gestation.

Each year, 15 million babies are born prematurely across the world.

Risk factors for premature birth include diabetes, high blood pressure, being pregnant with more than one baby and being either obese or underweight.

It is not recommended to induce labour before 39 weeks unless required for medical reasons such as pre-eclampsia.

Premature infants have a greater risk for cerebral palsy, delays in development, hearing and sight problems.

The chance of a baby's survival if they are delivered at 24 weeks is 55 per cent and about 80 per cent at 25 weeks.