The families of two second cousins who were born extremely prematurely are fundraising to support the hospitals that cared for them.

Maeve, daughter to Luke and Arabella Eddon, who live in Pickering, was born on December 11 at 29 weeks gestation weighing 2lb 7oz, while Phoebe daughter to Olly and Charlotte Cooper, also from the market town, was born on December 26, at 27 weeks gestation weighing 2lb 10oz.

Arabella said Maeve was born after we were told at a routine scan that she needed to be delivered early.

"Unfortunately, Scarborough Hospital is not equipped for babies born as prematurely as Maeve, so we were transferred to Barnsley Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).

"Maeve was delivered 11 weeks early by emergency C-section weighing just 2lb 7oz.

"We stayed in Barnsley NICU for 10 days in one of the parent rooms whilst Maeve was treated and cared for around the clock.

"Due to her early birth, Maeve needed lots of specialised equipment such as an incubator to maintain her temperature and a ventilator to keep her breathing. We were then moved to York Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU) when Maeve became stable enough. She stayed here for two months before being discharged to go home.

Phoebe was born 13 weeks premature on Boxing Day.

Mum Charlotte said: "Her early birth was a complete shock for all of us when she was born whilst we were away visiting family for Christmas in Wales. "Phoebe spent time in five different hospitals over the course of nine weeks. "A huge team of specially trained healthcare professionals were involved in Phoebe’s around the clock care throughout her time in hospital.

"Her care included breathing support, tube feeding, regular scans of her organs, blood tests, a blood transfusion and eye examinations. She made excellent progress during her time in hospital and was discharged to come home four weeks before her due date.

Charlotte said: "Both babies spent many weeks in special care in multiple hospitals.

"They both needed breathing support from birth and for most of their stay in hospital, alongside other specialist care for pre-term babies.

"To help support future premature babies, we would like to raise some money for the hospitals that cared for both babies."

Charlotte said: "We are fundraising for the multiple Special Care Baby Units that helped us hugely during Phoebe’s and Maeve’s time in hospital.

"These units provide specialist around the clock care for premature and sick babies. The charities involved play a vital role in supplementing NHS funding to buy life-saving equipment, provide extra training for staff, and help to make the families’ time on the unit more comfortable."

With your help, we would like to raise as much money as possible for future families with babies in special care to give the babies the best possible chance to thrive. If it was not for these specialised units, babies born extremely prematurely like Phoebe and Maeve would not survive. Both families are so very grateful that the units exist and we cannot thank all parties involved enough."

Charlotte added: "A team of family and friends are walking the Yorkshire Three Peaks on the August 27 and would be very grateful for sponsorship towards these very worthy charities. We are also holding a quiz and raffle at the Sun Inn, Pickering on October 26, as well as a bake sale and head shave.

To donated go to Justgiving page link: https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/phoebecooper261222

The charities the family are fundraising for are: Cuddles for Glan Clwyd Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (registered charity number: 517228), York Special Care Baby Unit Support Group (registered charity number: 516552), York and Scarborough Hospitals Charity (registered charity number: 1054527) and Barnsley Hospital Charity (registered charity number: 1058037). The money will be split equally between the four charities.

The charities in the hospitals help to support the families of the babies, as well as supplementing the funding from the NHS to buy life-saving equipment for use on the units.

in December last year. Both babies spent many weeks in special care in multiple hospitals. They both needed breathing support from birth and for most of their stay in hospital, alongside other specialist care for preterm babies. To help support future premature babies, the parents would like to raise some money for the hospitals that cared for both babies.