A KILBARCHAN mum who almost died after the premature birth of her first child has raised more than £1,000 for a charity close to her heart.

Kirsten Ballantyne, 32, and her husband Iain cycled 320 miles between them during October to raise money for Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity’s neonatal appeal.

In July last year, the couple’s son Machair was born six weeks early due to a placental abruption, which is when the placenta detaches prematurely from the wall of the uterus.

It only occurs in around one per cent of all pregnancies.

Kirsten had been visiting relatives in Fort William, in the Scottish Highlands, when she woke up with severe pain in her stomach and discovered she was bleeding heavily.

She was rushed by ambulance to Raigmore Hospital, in Inverness, and gave birth to Machair – who weighed just 4lb – after a complicated 20-hour-long labour and delivery.

The Gazette: Machair weighed just 4lbs when he was bornMachair weighed just 4lbs when he was born

However, Kirsten continued to lose blood and it soon became apparent that she was also suffering from a post-partum haemorrhage.

As a result, she had to immediately undergo further surgery and a blood transfusion.

It was several days after the surgery before Kirsten was well enough to be reunited with her son – and, a week later, he was transferred to the neonatal unit at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, in Glasgow, for further treatment.

Kirsten told The Gazette: “We spent a further four days in the NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit) in Glasgow, learning the new ways of the unit and getting to know some of the amazing staff.

“Although our time there was brief, they were always on hand to help and offer reassurance when we needed it.

“Both Iain and I are eternally grateful to each and every person that was involved in Machair’s care and we wanted to raise money for the neonatal appeal so the unit has all the vital things it needs to make the journey for children and their parents as smooth as possible.”

The Gazette: Kirsten and Machair saddle upKirsten and Machair saddle up

Kirsten and Iain even took Machair along for the ride as they got on their bikes and clocked up the miles in support of the neonatal appeal last month.

“We’re really pleased by how much money has been raised,” said Kirsten.

“People have been so generous.”

The couple are now planning to take part in a 10k run next year to raise even more funds for the charity.

To show your support for their fundraising efforts, make a donation online at www.justgiving.com/team/Ballantyne.