A YOUNG mum whose baby is still in an incubator after being born nearly four months early today told how she is living on an emotional rollercoaster.

Joanne Whitaker, 28, underwent an emergency Caesarean on November 10 after she developed the life-threatening condition, HELLP syndrome, for the second time.

She said today she felt for Chancellor Gordon Brown and his wife, Sarah, as they maintained a bedside vigil for their premature baby, Jennifer. Joanne's baby son, Rhys, who was due on February 24, was born weighing only 1lb 6oz, at Sheffield's Royal Hallamshire Hospital. He now weighs 2lb 5oz.

Rhys, who has developed a chronic lung disease because he was born so early, is not out of danger yet and Joanne, her partner, Steve Grainge, and their families are living from day to day.

Two weeks after Rhys was born, they were telephoned and asked to drive to Sheffield as it was thought unlikely he would survive the night, but in the event he pulled through.

Joanne, who makes the journey from their Malton home to Sheffield every other day, said: "We still don't know if he's going to come home. You get up in the morning thinking what's the news going to be? There's nothing we can do when we get there. I held him for the first time last week."

Joanne and Steve, of Ryngwoode Drive, said she wanted to raise awareness of HELPP syndrome and of the importance of pregnant mums attending their ante-natal appointments, especially after the 20-week stage. HELPP syndrome is a variant of pre-eclampsia which involves the breaking down of red blood cells, elevated liver enzymes and low platelet count. It can be fatal to the mother and baby.

Joanne said the initial symptoms were similar to heartburn, and women could quite easily be unaware that they had high blood pressure and protein levels, but could quickly become seriously ill.

"I want people to be aware of it. So many women don't know about it," Joanne said.

She first found out about the condition when she was pregnant with her first son Lewis, now three.

She went to an ante-natal appointment and was rushed to Leeds General Infirmary, where she had an emergency Caesarean just days later. Lewis was born at 27 weeks and weighed 2lb 5oz. He stayed in hospital for ten weeks and today is a happy, healthy little three-year-old.

When Joanne and Steve thought about having another baby, she was told that she could well develop HELPP again, but it was likely to be much later in her pregnancy.

After taking her own protein tests at home, she realised she was becoming ill again and was rushed to Leeds, then Sheffield, for her second Caesarean. She and her family said they wanted to thank all the staff at Sheffield for their continuing care for Rhys.

* For more information about HELPP, telephone the Action on Pre-Eclampsia helpline on 0208 427 4217 between 10am and 1pm.

Updated: 11:07 Monday, January 07, 2002