Our Preemie Journey.   Written by Nicole .

Twin girls Olivia and Tayla born 6^th May, 2008 at 30+3 weeks gestation at King Edward Memorial Hospital, Subiaco Western Australia.  Weighed 1115g and 1560g respectively.  Current age 19 months.

Olivia and Tayla spent their first week of life in NICU where they were on CPAP for a short while and also had phototherapy.  They spent another 5 weeks in Special Care and we took them home at 36 weeks gestation.  Their hospital stay was quite a smooth one compared to others but a very difficult experience nonetheless.

I found the hardest part of having our girls early and the ensuing 6 weeks in hospital was trying to juggle spending time with our tiny babies and with our almost 4 year old son Hayden.  I worried that he would feel left out or resentful that since the babies came along I had forgotten him L

One thing that has stuck in my mind when our girls were in NICU and were so tiny and helpless was when our son was visiting at the time.  My husband was holding Tayla and Hayden was standing next to them just looking at her and he started to sing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star to her, needless to say my husband and I shed a tear….

The hospital was fantastic in caring for our baby girls, however I found that support for the parents was something you had to seek out for yourself.  Once discharged we attended a preemie playgroup run by the Physio Dept for the first year of their life to keep track of their progress and to seek assistance for any issues should they arise.

 Buying clothes was difficult as there are not a lot of stores that sell a preemie range (particularly smaller than five zero’s) and we had to find double!

A for tip for a new preemie parent, take each moment as it comes.  You are your baby’s advocate so take everything in and do your own research so that you are able to make informed decisions for your baby…

 Olivia and Tayla now 19 months old. 

Thank you Nicole for sharing you beautiful story.

If you have a premmie story to share, please submit it to info at LaToriana.com.au

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also give a thought this holiday season to the many many mums who have precious little premmies who are not able to be home for the Summer holidays.  Many premature babies will be in need of specialised NICU and hospital care and cannot be home with their family and friends.  Spare a thought too for the parents who will be torn between spending too little time with family at home, and also who need to be with their precious baby at hospital.  Its such a difficult time.

PREMMIE HERO AWARDS …..   Find out more about how you can help give recognition to those individuals who help make a difference to premature babies and their families.  Nominations Open Feb 1st 2010

www.lilaussieprems.com.au/hero

If you are a business or individual  and can spare some sponsorship $$,   you may like to assist the Premmie  Hero awards… so please contact the above link.  Its a wonderful cause.

The www.lilaussieprems.com.au website is part of the National Premmie Foundation.  The National Premmie Foundation and the founding groups are what La Toriana support, so would love you to support them too.

We would also love to hear from families of premmie babies to share their story like Nicole has.  Please feel free to email me pics and your journey, we will pop it on the blog and also our Premmie baby section starting in 2010.  Helping awareness and providing information for all families of premature babies.

warmly

Elizabeth xx

Premmie Families Giving Back

Featured site www.lilaussieprems.com.au

There are 1000’s of families who have experienced the NICU & SCN hospital journey around Australia after giving birth prematurely. The hospitals are a savour not only to our children but also to the families.

The medical teams create miracles everyday saving our premmie babies and even some born as early as 22 weeks. Their dedication and passion shines through our childrens smiles and laughter.

As a community of families touched by the premature journey we want to give back to hospitals around Australia to say thanks starting in 2010. The community here at L’il Aussie Prems are very excited to announce that once a year we will be collecting gifts from around Australia to send to one hospital chosen by the public. Each year a different hospital will be chosen to spread the good will from families. We enourage families of premature babies and the public to join with us in “giving back”.

Please vote in our poll currently on the website for your chosen hospital. The list of hospitals have been chosen by our members and will be rotating each year so every hospital will benefit.

Please feel free to join the forum and let us know what you would like to donate. You can donate books for families to read to their babies whilst in hospital, if you are crafty you can create name tags for each baby, sew or knit, the list is endless.

The poll will be visable on the website for a period of 3 months. We will be updating this page as details come to light so be sure to keep checking back.

for more information… please go to www.lilaussieprems.com.au

At La Toriana we have one of the largest and most stylish, affordable collection of premmie baby clothing, premature baby gifts and keepsakes available to buy online. If you have a baby born early, or are a friend/family looking to give a premmie baby gift… contact me and I can helpWe showcase great Australian and New Zealand designers as well as neonatal and NICU appropriate baby clothing as well as organic premmie clothes and accessories.  Checkout our vast range of premmie wear and newborn baby items in our secure online baby boutique.  If you are looking for a  premmie baby keepsake doll, or organic baby wear for a bub that has been born prematurely, then you have come to the right online store.  La Toriana specialise in providing great quality, stylish and affordable designer label products for low weight babies and babies born early. 

La Toriana are fast becoming a leader in providing stylish, affordable quality premmie baby clothing, premmie baby comforters and premature baby accessories to family and friends touched by the birth of a premmie baby.

At La Toriana we have a dedicated category for premmie babies called “Premmie Baby” online on our website.

Our blogis a way of reaching other premmie baby families and we will bring you news of great prem baby  support sites like

National Premmie Foundation,+ National Premmie Day July 31st

Lil aussie prems,

Loddon Mallee Kids,

lifes little treasures,

miracle babies  

and more. We will continue to dedicate our time and a percentage of sales from La Toriana to amazing not for profit groups who are a wonderful support to friends and families touched by the birth of a premature baby.

On a regular basis we will bring news and stories about premmie babiesand their journeys, news and tips, ideas and support from these amazing online prem baby support groups.  So keep checking the La Toriana BLOG, and feel free to add and comment at anytime… we love hearing from our readers.

La Toriana showcase only quality suppliers in premature and low weight baby products,  and hand picked premmie baby clothes so you can be assured of quality…. after all your little  prem baby deserves every chance. 

Great prem baby wear suppliers like, Teeny Weeny,  Earlybirds range including the  premmie organic baby clothing, Lambykins Organic premmie baby wear and soon gorgeous clothing from Tummy Bear too.  We will continue to source great quality premmie baby garments, accessories and comforters and hope to be known for an extensive and quality online premmie baby clothing.

La Toriana not only stocks a large range of premmie baby clothes, we also stock premature baby positioning pillows, premmie baby comforters and prem baby accessories that all help make their little lives a little more easier.  Products like Cuski, The Zaky,

So.. if you know someone touched by the birth of a premature baby….  we have great prem items and accessories great as a baby gift.

Also remember too… the above support groups are a treasure… full of amazing support and information for any one touched by the birth of a premature baby.

warmly

elizabeth xx

La Toriana has been passionate about supporting Premature Babies. 

July 25th marks 2008 National Premmie Day.

Elizabeth, founder of La Toriana  www.LaToriana.com.au ,  who has had 3 prem babies, is an keen supporter of National Premmie Foundation,  www.prembaby.org.au and also her local group, Loddon Mallee Kids   www.loddonmalleekids.org.au

It is a hard road for many families experiencing the birth of a prem baby, and a rollercoaster ride for sometime afterwards.  There are some amazing supports out there these days like the above groups and websites such as www.momentbymoment.com.au , that are all about helping families and friends who are touched by the birth of a premature baby.

La Toriana have released this week their premmie section.  It is hard finding prem baby clothes and  accessories.  La Toriana would love you to check out their prem baby clothing lines and some new releases coming very soon in organic premature baby clothing.

Having a baby is an amazing, joyous occasion.  

Friends, family, neighbours and acquaintances all gather around sending congratulatory cards, flowers, gifts. They all can’t wait to visit the new baby, have a hold and pat dad on the back, go out for that celebratory drink and give the mum a warm hug and flowers. Everyone is happy and knows how to react.

Is it the same when a baby is born premature? No, not always.

It’s a very frightening time for the parents whose baby comes too early or is sick. The joy soon turns to fear and panic and so sets in a rollercoaster ride. Every single minute is precious. It’s an extremely worrying time.  It’s a very isolating time for the parents. There is a fear they may loose their baby, may have long term health issues or concerns of being able to cope. Of guilt, anger and fear.

Friends and family are often feeling at a loss too.
Many will not send a congratulatory card or present, just in case the baby passes away and it could upset the parents. Many will *wait* and see how things go before they send a card. Sometimes this could be a couple months later.

Tips for supporting a friend/family with a prem/sick baby

• Do send a card, present soon after if that’s what you had intended on doing, to congratulate the arrival of their much loved baby
• Do knowledge it’s a stressful time
• Offer positive feedback on the baby, their name, pics etc
• Give them a journal to write their journey at this time, a book of comfort or similar gift
• Do keep in touch, via a quick call, text, email or letter during their time in hospital to let them know you are thinking of them, even though they possible wont be up to returning calls etc for a while
• Offers of help at home, with other kids, animals, work, where you can during this time.
• Drop over frozen meals for the dad/family or once they get home from hospital
• Give mum a special notebook so she can diarise her journey through this time.
• Offer to do washing, shopping etc so its one less thing mum or dad needs to think about
• Offer to pass on info to other friends/family for them
• Do be there to listen and offer comfort
• Please don’t offer parenting advise, your experiences, pry or pass judgement (its hard enough for the parents… no matter how well meaning you are)
• Please don’t be self cantered and think of YOUR feelings on the situation,

Today there is so much more support available locally and nationally. As a parent, or friend of someone who has had a prem baby, there is a lot of support.

Read the full article here and list of great supports available … all on mumzone here 

mumzone has an amazing amount of support and information for all mums.

La Toriana is giving the National Premmie Foundation 10% of all sales from July 15th to July 25th.  We are also giving you another 10% off too, type NPF as the code at checkout to automatically receive this.