This month is World Prematurity Awareness Month
This is my fourth year being a part of this global event
As Esther and William enter their fifth year of life
Five years!
When they were born
We were not sure they would even have five days
Esther and William are true miracle babies
Testament to the wonder of modern medicine
Products of the excellent care given in NICU and SCBU
Esther and William are here because we as a society
Have learned how to help tiny babies survive
Because we as a society
Have become aware and educated and resourced
To nurture premature lives
So that babies born too small, too soon
Can survive, can thrive, can grow
Sadly they do not all survive
But many many do
More and more preemies are able to survive
Because of education, medicine, machines and human resources
Unless you or someone you know has had a premature baby
It can be hard to comprehend how tiny these babies can be
How giant the obstacles that lay before them
In order for them to fight to survive
Unless you or someone you know has had a premature baby
It can be hard to comprehend how difficult a NICU stay is for parents
Seeing their babies in plastic boxes
Wired to machines
Leaving each day without their babies
Returning the next not knowing what they will find
The constant beeps and buzzers
Bloods and tests and cares
The medical terminology
The fear of the known and unknown
World Prematurity Awareness Month
Is a time to talk about our babies
All those born too sick, too small, too soon
Those who stay and those who die
World Prematurity Awareness Month
Is a time to discuss what we can do
To support the families of babies born too soon
To support these babies and help them grow
To find ways of reducing the numbers of premature babes
And increasing the numbers of those born who survive
You can help with all of this
By supporting World Prematurity Month
And in particular World Prematurity Day
Please click here to see what you can do
Teeny tiny babies are counting on YOU!
So important to raise awareness of prematurity – for their babies and their parents. You’re so right, it’s a time to talk about our babies – and celebrate their achievements and their lives. Hopefully in time more babies will be able to go home with their mummies and daddies, where they belong xxx
I remember visiting a NICU of my local hospital when I was studying child development and marvelling at how tiny the babies were. I happened to see parents taking their preemie baby home after weeks in hospital. It was such a wonderful moment to witness, though I know it’s not a moment all babies reach. Modern Medicine is truly amazing though and it can only get better! Xxx
we definitely need to raise awareness of this. My friend is currently living the life of a being a special care mummy. Her beautiful baby girl Bella came 17 weeks early. They sadly lost her twin sister Sophia at birth, but Bella has gone from 1lb 6oz to over 7lbs and is now 15 weeks old!
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