'A plastic sandwich bag saved my baby's life'

A PLYMOUTH mum was left stunned after doctors put her newborn baby into a sandwich bag from Tesco. Lauren Hawking, 29, gave birth to her son, Blake, 13 weeks prematurely when she was 15.

- By ABIGAIL NEEP

Lauren with her son Blake, now 13, who was born 13 weeks prematurely. Doctors placed him into a Tesco-branded zip-lock plastic bag to create an insulating effect, keeping him warm until he could be moved to an incubator

(LAUREN HAWKING)

Lauren's waters broke at five months, and she remained in slow labour for a further month. Doctors were unable to find a heartbeat during the checkup. The umbilical cord had got caught, and the circulation was cut off. Lauren then had an emergency C-section, where Blake was successfully delivered.

When a baby is born either prematurely or at a particularly low weight, a 'bagging' technique can help the baby retain heat and regulate body temperature. The plastic creates an insulating effect that keeps the baby warm until they can be moved to a stable environment, such as an incubator.

Doctors carried out this method to regulate baby Blake's temperature, but Lauren was shocked to see that he was placed inside a Tesco-branded zip-lock bag.

Describing the birth, Lauren told