Tearful Moment Mom Meets Premature Baby 36 Hours After Birth: 'We Made It'
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
A mom from Dublin, Ireland, has shared the moment she met her newborn baby for the first time—36 hours after his premature birth.
Alice Varley (@alicevarley) posted a short clip on TikTok cradling her tiny son, Liam, who was born a few days before Christmas at 31 weeks.
Looking up at his mom, Varley wrote in her caption: "I'm convinced his eyes are saying, 'We made it.'"
Mom holding 31-week-old baby at hospital.
Mom holding 31-week-old baby at hospital.
@alicevarley
In early December, Varley told Newsweek that she began experiencing severe migraines, rib pain and extreme fatigue.
Multiple visits to maternity triage didn't raise alarm bells—until a routine midwife appointment told Varley and partner Alex Beck that their baby was measuring small. Days later, Varley was admitted to the hospital for further investigation.
Eventually, a consultant told the couple that their baby would need to be born before Christmas as the pregnancy wasn't going to be viable for much longer.
"We were in shock," Varley told Newsweek. "We had a low-risk pregnancy until we didn't suddenly. The medical teams were amazing, allowed us time to call our families and then brought us to a private room separate to the maternity wards."
That Wednesday night, Varley was given steroids to help mature Liam's lungs and magnesium sulfate to protect both of their brains. Doctors hoped to delay delivery just long enough for those medications to take effect.
"Thankfully, Liam was a little fighter and his heartbeat stayed strong the entire time," Varley said.
Varley and Beck leaned on each other and focused on staying calm for the birth.
"Giving birth at 31 weeks is never on anyone's birth plan," she said. "I had a huge sense of relief that we were in hospital and had two days to mentally prepare. I'm proud of how we supported each other as a couple and really worked together."
Although her due date wasn't until February 15, Liam arrived a few days before Christmas. He was tiny but stable, and immediately admitted to a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).
Varley, however, had to remain in the hospital's high dependency unit due to pre-eclampsia, a serious pregnancy complication that can lead to seizures.
Her treatment required continuous magnesium infusions, meaning she couldn't leave her unit for over a day.
For the first 24 hours, Varley was only able to see Liam through photos and videos Alex had sent.
"I was able to look at his incubator briefly in a wheelchair for 10 minutes after 24 hours, but I probably didn't hold, touch or see him with his eyes open until 36 hours after his birth," Varley told Newsweek.
Meeting him for the first time was an overwhelming experience for the new mom.
"Pure, raw emotion of the entire week flooded me," Varley said. "Getting us both safely to that point was what it was all for. I just wanted to make sure that this perfect, tiny, little baby knew how much he was loved and could hear and feel the familiarity of my voice and presence."
The moment Varley met her baby has gone viral on TikTok, amassing 1.9 million views, leaving users in tears.
"I'm actually crying cause he's so precious and sigh the way he looks at you with that little smile," one user wrote.
"The look in his eyes melts my heart," another added.
Now seven months old—five months corrected—Liam is thriving. Varley explained that it was tough in the beginning, but he started to make real progress in March.
"He is a cheeky, fun and chilled baby boy, he loves people and will give anyone a smile who gives him attention," she said. "The worry is still there, we don't look at milestones and know Liam will develop in his own time."
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Newsweek
2 hours ago
- Newsweek
Pasta Warning Issued Over Undeclared Allergens: 'Should Be Thrown Away'
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A public health alert has been issued for misbranded frozen pasta that may contain undeclared soy and sesame allergens. The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) issued a warning on Wednesday regarding packets of Schnucks pork and beef tortellini that may contain pork and beef toasted ravioli instead. The warning stated that the pork and beef ravioli contain soy and sesame, known allergens, which are not declared on the product label. No official recall has been requested because the product is no longer available for purchase, but the FSIS urged consumers to check their freezers for the affected items. The alert covers products distributed in Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, and Wisconsin. Why It Matters Food allergies are a significant health concern in the United States, with soybeans and sesame among the nine major food allergens identified under federal law. The other seven include milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts and wheat. Allergic reactions can vary in severity from coughing and a runny nose to a life-threatening reaction known as anaphylaxis. According to the CDC's National Center for Health Statistics, almost 6 percent of U.S. adults and children have a food allergy. Stock image of tortellini and tomato sauce. Stock image of tortellini and tomato sauce. Getty Images What To Know The public health alert said the affected 16-oz bags of Schnucks Tortellini Pork & Beef had a best before date of 05/27/2026 printed at the top of the bag. The product subject to the public health alert bears the establishment number "EST. 13051" inside the USDA mark of inspection. The affected product was shipped to a Schnucks distribution center in Missouri and sent onward to store locations in Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, and Wisconsin. The misbranding was discovered after a consumer filed a complaint about receiving ravioli in packaging labeled as tortellini. Upon investigation, the company notified FSIS, which led to the public health alert. P. E. & F, Inc. told Newsweek that no injuries or illnesses have been reported in connection with the health alert. What People Are Saying Schnucks told Newsweek: "Since the affected lot of the product is out of date, it is no longer available at Schnucks stores, but we do urge our customers to check their home freezers." What Happens Next The FSIS said consumers who have purchased the products are urged not to consume them. The products should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase, it added. Anyone concerned about a reaction should contact a healthcare provider, it said.
Newsweek
3 hours ago
- Newsweek
Early Warning Signs For MS Discovered—Appear 15 Years Before Main Symptoms
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Warning signs for multiple sclerosis (MS) could emerge more than a decade before the first classical symptoms occur—offering hope for earlier detection and better patient outcomes. This is the finding of researchers from the University of British Columbia (UBC), who have analyzed the health records of more than 12,000 people in the Canadian province and challenged assumptions about when the disease really begins. They discovered those living with MS—a chronic condition affecting the brain and spinal cord—began using healthcare services at elevated rates 15 years before their first 'typical' MS symptoms appeared. While MS affects people differently, symptoms often include feeling extremely tired, problems with your eyes or vision, numbness or a tingling feeling in different parts of the body, feeling off balance, muscle cramps and concentration/memory problems. "MS can be difficult to recognize as many of the earliest signs—like fatigue, headache, pain and mental health concerns—can be quite general and easily mistaken for other conditions," said paper author and UBC neurology professor Helen Tremlett in a statement. "Our findings dramatically shift the timeline for when these early warning signs are thought to begin, potentially opening the door to opportunities for earlier detection and intervention." Female doctor is taking the blood pressure of a young adult female patient during a medical consultation. Female doctor is taking the blood pressure of a young adult female patient during a medical consultation. Antonio_Diaz/Getty Images The study offers a clear picture to date of how patients engage with a range of healthcare providers in the years leading up to a MS diagnosis as they search for answers to "ill-defined" medical challenges. Diagnosis for the condition typically requires imaging (MRI) signals and a specific clinical presentation. The study tracked physician visits in the 25 years leading up to the onset of a patient's MS symptoms, as determined by a neurologist through detailed medical history and clinical assessments. Most previous studies have only examined trends in the five to 10 years leading up to a patient's first "demyelinating event" (the loss or damage of the myelin sheath, a protective covering surrounding nerve fibers in the brain and spinal cord) such as vision problems. Bruce Bebo, Executive Vice President of Research for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, told Newsweek, "This is an impressive study by a world-class research team offering important new insights into the earliest manifestations of MS. "The ability to identify people at high risk for MS could trigger enhanced monitoring and subsequent identification of people in the earliest stage of disease. Treatment of MS at this earliest stage would likely result in significantly improved outcomes." The researchers revealed that, compared to the general population, people with MS had a steady build-up of healthcare engagement over 15 years with different types of doctor visits increasing at particular points. Some 15 years before symptom onset, patient visits to general practice physicians increased, as did visits to any physician for symptoms like fatigue, pain, dizziness and mental health conditions. At 12 years before, visits to a psychiatrist increased. Three to five years before diagnosis, emergency medicine and radiology visits increased. And one year before, physician visits across multiple specialties peaked, including neurology, emergency medicine and radiology. "These patterns suggest that MS has a long and complex prodromal phase—where something is happening beneath the surface but hasn't yet declared itself as MS," said paper author and UBC postdoctoral fellow Marta Ruiz-Algueró in a statement. "We're only now starting to understand what these early warning signs are, with mental health-related issues appearing to be among the earliest indicators." The study follows previous work by Tremlett and her team to characterize the early stages of MS, known as the 'prodromal phase', where subtle signs or other symptoms occur before the onset of more typical symptoms. These periods are well established in other neurological disorders like Parkinson's disease, where mood changes, sleep disturbances and constipation often arise years before the more familiar motor symptoms like tremors and stiffness. While the researchers point out the vast majority of people who experience general symptoms like fatigue and headaches won't go on to develop MS, they say recognizing and characterising the MS prodrome could one day help accelerate diagnosis and improve outcomes for patients. "By identifying these earlier red flags, we may eventually be able to intervene sooner—whether that's through monitoring, support or preventive strategies," said Dr. Tremlett. "It opens new avenues for research into early biomarkers, lifestyle factors and other potential triggers that may be at play during this previously overlooked phase of the disease." Could we use these early signs to reduce risk of MS developing? Bebo said: "It is likely that the central nervous system is already affected at this early stage of the disease, making true prevention unlikely. However, initiating treatment with a disease-modifying therapy at this point could halt disease progression." However, he added, "Many consider the onset of MS begins when autoreactive immune cells gain access to the central nervous system and start causing damage. "If we can identify the very earliest changes in the immune system prior to entry into the central nervous system and prevent these cells from getting access to the brain and spinal cord, it might be possible to prevent MS." Do you have a tip on a health story that Newsweek should be covering? Do you have a question about MS? Let us know via health@ Reference Ruiz-Algueró, M., Zhu, F., Chertcoff, A., Zhao, Y., Marrie, R. A., & Tremlett, H. (2025). Health Care Use Before Multiple Sclerosis Symptom Onset. JAMA Network Open, 8(8).
Newsweek
3 hours ago
- Newsweek
Animated Map Shows Lyme Disease's Spread in the US
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. As Justin Timberlake revealed this week that he has been quietly battling Lyme disease during his recent world tour, the latest data from the CDC shows how dramatically the tick-borne illness has been spreading across the United States. The pop star's disclosure has added a high-profile voice to growing concerns over the disease, which has expanded far beyond its original hotspots in the Northeast and Upper Midwest. In a candid Instagram post on Thursday, Timberlake said he chose to speak out "to shed some light on what I've been up against behind the scenes." He described the experience as both physically and mentally grueling, citing nerve pain, fatigue and illness that often coincided with his performances. Timberlake said he was raised to keep health matters private but wanted to be transparent to avoid his symptoms being misinterpreted. The singer launched his Forget Tomorrow World Tour in April in Vancouver and wrapped Wednesday in Turkey. Despite considering canceling, he said the "joy that performing brings me far outweighs the fleeting stress my body was feeling." As Timberlake's announcement draws new attention to Lyme disease, Newsweek has visualized data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to show how Lyme disease's range appears to be spreading further across the U.S. What is Lyme Disease "Not only did I prove my mental tenacity to myself," he wrote, "but I now have so many special moments with all of you that I will never forget." Lyme disease is caused by the Borrelia burgdorferi bacterium and spread through bites from infected black-legged ticks. According to the Bay Area Lyme Foundation, it is the most common vector-borne infectious disease in the U.S., with at least 627,927 estimated actual cases in 2024. Early symptoms include fatigue, fever, joint pain—and a signature bull's-eye rash. Left untreated, the infection can spread to joints, the heart and the nervous system. While antibiotics are often effective, some patients experience lingering effects for months or years. Josh Wein, executive director of the Bay Area Lyme Foundation, told Newsweek: "While Lyme is easily treated in some patients, others go on to suffer debilitating symptoms." He noted that "around 10 to 20 percent" of those treated with the standard antibiotic course still suffer from fatigue, pain, or joint issues, and that "more than 2 million suffer from its debilitating later stage symptoms." Lyme Disease Across the US In June 2025, the CDC released maps showing reported Lyme disease cases for 2001, 2010, and 2023. The progression is striking. In 2001, most cases were clustered in the Northeast—particularly in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York and New Jersey—with sparse, scattered cases elsewhere. By 2010, the disease had expanded into the Midwest and parts of the South, while growing denser along the East Coast. In 2023, over 89,000 cases were reported to the CDC by state health departments and the District of Columbia. That year, Lyme disease spanned a vast portion of the eastern U.S., from Maine to Virginia and deep into the Midwest, with many more counties showing significant case counts. It's important to note that CDC maps use the patient's county of residence, not the place of infection. "Lyme disease has spread significantly in the U.S. since the 1990s due to a combination of ecological, climatic and human-driven factors," Wein explained. "Warming temperatures enabled ticks to survive and expand northward into regions like the upper Midwest and Canada, and Milder winters and earlier springs extend the period when ticks can bite and spread the bacteria." Who Is at Risk—and How to Prevent Lyme Disease "Anyone can get Lyme disease," Wein said, noting that "ticks carrying Lyme and other pathogens live in a range of climates." Mark A. Willis, biology professor at Case Western Reserve University, told Newsweek the biggest risk factor is spending time in wooded or grassy areas where ticks and their hosts—like deer and rodents—live. He also pointed to suburban expansion: "Humans developing new neighborhoods and moving into closer proximity to the natural areas where Lyme disease, its natural hosts and the ticks live... exposes us to the natural hosts like rodents and deer who visit our yards and gardens." Thankfully, there are steps that can be taken to help prevent Lyme disease. The Bay Area Lyme Foundation recommends steps to reduce risk: Use EPA-registered repellents with DEET, picaridin, or permethrin (on clothing). Wear long sleeves and pants; tuck pants into socks when outdoors. Stay on trails and avoid brush and tall grass. Check your body, clothing, and pets for ticks after being outdoors. Shower within two hours of coming indoors to help remove ticks Do you have a tip on a health story that Newsweek should be covering? Do you have a question about Lyme disease? Let us know via health@
