A miracle baby, who was born just 26 weeks into pregnancy, started school last week, on a day his parents thought might never come. Alfie Robson, four, weighed just 1lb 15oz when he was born at Bath’s Royal United Hospital on June 9, 2008, and spent four months in intensive care units, undergoing a major surgery and blood transfusions.

Last Tuesday, he joined the reception class at St George’s School in Semington.

Before he was born, his mum and dad, Wayne and Alison Robson, were already concerned as they had suffered the trauma of losing babies in the past.

Mrs Robson said: “We were trying for 13 years for a baby. We lost a little girl at 28 weeks who had spina bifida and Down’s syndrome, and had nine miscarriages. I was finally referred to the miscarriage clinic in London and found out I was pregnant.

“At 25 weeks, I felt a bit weird and I rang the hospital and they said: ‘I think you’re in labour.’ “I said, ‘I can’t be, I’m only 25 weeks.’ They examined me and said I was in labour. It was scary. As soon as he was born, they were working on him and I couldn’t see anything, but I heard him cry, which was good. I thought I was going to lose him. He was tiny, just bigger than my husband’s hand.”

Alfie was taken to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and it was two weeks before he could have a cuddle with his parents.

“When he was born, there were ups and downs. We just had to take each day as it came,” said Mrs Robson. “My husband and I lived at the hospital. When we did go home, we were just waiting for the phone to ring.”

Despite his precarious condition, and complications including a perforated bowel, Alfie was allowed home when he weighed 4lb. He still suffers from occasional chest and lung problems, but is a healthy and active little boy. Mrs Robson, a receptionist at a medical centre, said she had mixed feelings about seeing Alfie go off to school.

“I cried. We told him he’d have a great time, but I was so nervous. I thought he was too small and I was scared to let him go. I wrap him in cotton wool, we waited such a long time for him.”

She added it was incredible to see Alfie grow up and tackle new milestones and added: “I’d like to thank NICU in Bath and Bristol Children’s Hospital. Without them he wouldn’t be here. “He would never have survived if I had given birth in the ambulance. “He’s a miracle.”