A MILLPORT mum has told how her baby boy "died for two minutes" before being brought back to life after he was born 13 weeks early.

Mhairi Jones went into labour with son Brodie when she was just 27 weeks pregnant.

The mum-of-six and husband Darren, both 39, were left distraught after doctors at Crosshouse Hospital's Ayrshire maternity unit told them their baby son weighed just 2lbs 5oz - and might not pull through.

But last month the plucky youngster celebrated his first birthday - a day his family thought they might never see.

Mhairi told the News how she had been airlifted to hospital after going into labour two thirds of the way through her term.

Mhairi said: "I had a low lying placenta. It ruptured and I got taken to hospital off the island by helicopter and Brodie was born at 27 weeks by emergency c-section.

"He was born at 2.05am on October 4, weighing 2lbs 5oz. We didn't get to see him that night because he was so small and ill."

"I was a horrible wait and it was only hours later when we eventually got to clap eyes on our son for the first time.

"I remember how tiny he looked and just praying that everything would be alright."

Brave Brodie battled during his first few days but Mhairi told how his condition took a turn for the worse and the family feared they would lose him.

She said: "It is obviously very difficult for a baby when they are so premature and there are lots of complications. Brodies was holding his own but then deteriorated very quickly and the doctors had to put him into an incubator.

"He actually died and they brought him back. They told us he was gone for about two minutes before they managed to resuscitate him."

The youngster's road to recovery took months but following four blood transfusions and 102 days in hospital, Brodie was eventually allowed home.

Last month the couple, along with Brodie 's siblings, Darren, 19, Hannah, 17, Ryan, 15, Jonathan, 13 and Oliver, 11 celebrated his first birthday.

Mhairi, who is a support worker, says is was a special day.

She added: "We just celebrated his first birthday, which was lovely. There were times I wondered if we would ever see that milestone.

"When he was going through all that in the hospital we weren't sure we would get to celebrate this, so it has been an emotional time.

"He is doing great now but we know if it wasn't for the amazing doctors and midwives at Ayrshire Maternity Unit, Brodie might not be here.

"We owe them so much."