Baby born 1lb 11oz survived against all odds... and has now started nursery school

A BABY girl who was born so small that doctors used bubble wrap to keep her warm is now starting nursery school.

Hope Prestleton was born four-months early in February 2012 and weighed in at a tiny 1lb 11oz – less than a bag of sugar.

Doctors warned her worried parents Tracie and Mark that their new baby was in grave danger and told them that should she survive, she may grow up disabled.

But the little girl beat the odds and even started nursery in September.

Baby Hope swaddled in bubble wrap PA Real Life

Three days before Hope’s birth Tracie was admitted to Heartland's Hospital, Birmingham for monitoring after her waters started leaking.

The 32-year-old said: "The doctors said she showed no signs of distress so I went home. But then I woke up in pain and told my fiance Mark to take me back to the hospital."

Once there, Hope was born by an emergency caesarean section.

Tracie, a supermarket manager from Birmingham, said: "When I saw Hope for the first time she was so small. Doctors said because she came so early she was in a lot of danger and there was a risk she might not survive at all.”

To keep Hope warm doctors decided to swaddle the little tot in bubble wrap, as well as putting in a line to feed her medication.

The tiny baby even suffered several heart attacks – which she overcame.

Tracie said: "Everyone called her a miracle.

"Hope's heart slowed down and stopped several times but while doctors tried to interfere she recovered within seconds.

"She was well enough to leave the hospital three weeks earlier than planned too.”

"Doctors said she was so strong, so I bought her a Superman baby-gro. But it didn't fit until she got home from hospital. She was strong but small."

But, the proud mum admits she was worried when it came to taking her miracle baby home.

"We were scared about bringing her home," Tracie remembers. "We thought: ‘will something happen to her now?’ We worried things would go down-hill unexpectedly.”

Thankfully, nurses reassured worried the couple that Hope was actually above average and doing well.

When Hope eventually left hospital she weighed 4lbs 6ozs and health checks proved she was a healthy baby.

The Prestleton's with a fighting fit Hope PA Real Life

Today, Hope is three and full of energy. She loves playing with older brother, Alex, five, and can often be seen jumping around in muddy puddles - like her favourite character Peppa Pig.