Malachi was born at Dubbo Base Hospital 12 days ago with a "flat" heartbeat after Ms Snelson underwent an emergency caesarian section.

"I didn't understand what that meant when they first told me," grandmother Linda Snelson said.

"We were told afterwards that they had to resuscitate Malachi twice in 25 minutes."

Linda was waiting outside the emergency room and became alarmed when a nursing sister rushed in with cling wrap.

About five minutes later a paediatrician arrived: "The next thing we saw Malachi wheeled away with three people working on him," Linda said.

Malachi, just hours old, was taken by air ambulance to the special care unit at the Sydney Children's Hospital Randwick as his mum Phyllis recovered at Dubbo Base.

His grandmother caught trains and buses to stay by Malachi's side during a four-day stay in Sydney.

"I was a mess," Linda said.

"I had 15 hours sleep in four days."

Malachi was reunited with his mum early last week and the pair were monitored for a further four days at the base hospital before being released in time for Mother's Day.

"He's just a little miracle," Linda said.

"We were told to expect all these complications - brain damage, liver and kidney failure - but he doesn't have any of it, so far.

"The worst we were told was that he might have delayed motor skills.

"He's just so lucky."