A mother says her little boy, born more than 15 weeks early, is her “miracle baby”.

Sasha Lister gave birth to twins Barnaby and Charlie at just 24 weeks and six days into her pregnancy.

They weighed just 1lb 6oz and 1lb 9oz respectively.

Barnaby died at two weeks old but youngest twin Charlie is thriving with the help of oxygen.

Sasha, from Bolnore Village in Haywards Heath, said: “When my waters broke when I was 19 weeks pregnant, doctors did not expect my pregnancy to continue safely. I became ill with sepsis on November 30 and went to the Princess Royal Hospital in Haywards Heath.

“But they do not take such premature babies and we needed to get the twins out as soon as possible, so I was rushed to St Peter’s Hospital in Chertsey in an ambulance.

“I went into natural labour the next day, December 1, and the twins were delivered naturally that evening.

“It was incredible to see two tiny babies fighting for their lives, when abortions are still possible up to 24 weeks.”

Charlie stayed in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at St Peter’s for six weeks.

Sasha said: “I didn’t want to leave his side. I had a lovely reclining chair so we could have skin-to-skin contact which is so important for babies.”

But when Charlie was moved to the Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU) at the Princess Royal Hospital in Haywards Heath, Sasha, who has two older sons, PJ, 18, and George, eight, missed the comfortable chairs.

The 38-year-old, who is married to Charlie’s father Peter Lister, said: “The staff were fantastic in both units, but the SCBU only had upright chairs which get very uncomfortable.

"You couldn’t lie back and cuddle your baby. They had a reclining chair for a week’s trial and all the mums and staff thought it was great.

“You don’t realise how many people are going through what I went through until you see all the mums and babies for yourself.

“I had two normal pregnancies before the twins and I never thought it would happen to me.”

Charlie was discharged from the hospital in mid-March, a day before his due date.

Since then, Sasha has been raising money for the SCBU to buy one of the reclining chairs, which cost about £1,000 each, for them to keep on a permanent basis.

Her friends organised a family fun day at The Dolphin Leisure Centre in Haywards Heath on May 7 which raised more than £500, and a coffee morning was held at a friend’s house on May 16.

She will give any remaining funds to The Little Roo Neonatal Fund at St Peter’s.

To donate, go to justgiving.com/crowdfunding/sashalister.