BRITAIN: The baby daughter of the British Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr Gordon Brown, born prematurely 10 days ago, has suffered a brain haemorrhage and is in a serious condition, a statement on behalf of Mr Brown and his wife said yesterday.
Jennifer Jane, who was born seven weeks early on December 28th, was taken to a unit at the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary from a hospital near Mr Brown's constituency for further tests on Saturday. Her parents were at her bedside last night.
"Sadly, Jennifer's condition following her cerebral haemorrhage has deteriorated over the last 24 hours," the statement said. "Gordon and Sarah are with her and are grateful for the support and good wishes they are receiving at a difficult time."
Jennifer is the first child born to Mr Brown (50) and wife Sarah (37), and weighed just 1.1 kg at birth.
Mrs Brown, a public relations executive, married the Chancellor 15 months ago, although they first met in the mid-1990s. She was allowed to go home on Thursday, six days after the birth. As she emerged from the hospital, looking uneasy, she smiled and held her husband's hand as he told waiting reporters about his "beautiful" daughter.
Mrs Brown seemed overwhelmed by the events of the past week, and the couple have not been seen in public since since Jennifer's condition deteriorated.
An official spokesman for the Prime Minister, Mr Blair, who is in India on a state visit with his wife Cherie, said Mr Blair was being kept closely informed.
"The Prime Minister and Cherie have been keeping in close touch throughout the visit. All their thoughts and prayers are with Gordon, Sarah and baby Jennifer," the spokesman said.
Mr Brown's older brother, John, who was best man at his wedding last year, visited the hospital yesterday afternoon, but he made no comment to waiting reporters.
The deterioration in Jennifer's condition is likely to be due to one of two causes, a huge haemorrhage or the development of hydrocephalus, said Dr Nim Subhedar, consultant neo-natologist at Liverpool Women's Hospital.
A massive haemorrhage could prove fatal because a tiny baby's body would be unable to take the strain.
"If a vulnerable, premature baby has a large haemorrhage, a lot of blood that should be in the blood stream is instead diverted to the brain," Dr Subhedar said. "The circulation can collapse, the heart cannot deliver blood and nutrients to the vital organs and those organs will fail."
Hydrocephalus is not considered a fatal condition but can have serious long-term consequences, Dr Subhedar explained.
Blood clots prevent cerebrospinal fluid in the brain from draining away and being reabsorbed into the baby's circulation, causing the brain to become enlarged. Doctors must act immediately to drain the fluid by inserting a shunt, or tube, into the brain through a hole in the skull.
The condition can lead to cerebral palsy, an incurable condition affecting the nerves and muscles, or leave the child with learning difficulties.
The majority of babies who suffer from either a huge haemorrhage or hydrocephalus are left with some degree of disability, Dr Subhedar said. "If you take 100 babies, the vast majority will have some sort of problems," he said.