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. 

 read the full article here at the Herald Sun News

was wonderful catching up with these bubs and mums

Premmie Hero Award Winners

In February 2009 nominations were open to find Australia’s first ever “local premmie heroes”. The awards were created by parents of premature babies as a way to pay tribute and thank the amazing Australian’s who volunteer their time supporting families after the birth of their premature children.

After many nominations and a hard task ahead L’il Aussie Prems are thrilled to announce the winners of L’il Aussie Prems “Local Premmie Hero Awards”.

L’il Aussie Prems wish to thank everyone who was nominated for their hard work and hope you continue to support our families. With your help the NICU/SCN journey is that much easier.

Click on the image to read their amazing stories

The sponsors

Other Sponsors
LaToriana, Bellabee Candles, Bub Born Early, Emotive Images

The judges
Amanda Lonergan
Mara Lee
Sean Simpson
Parool Shah-Harrington
Elizabeth Murphy

A special thank you
Rebecca Waterhouse
Kathryn Teale
Sean Simpson
Danielle Siler
Nicole Powell
Jodie Crichton

And to the amazing people, websites and businesses below, L’il Aussie Prems appreciate your support
L’il Aussie Prem Members
Tracey Spicer
Huggies Australia
Hub Hub
Mumzone
One to One Conversations
Essential Baby
The Zaky
C.H.I.L.D
Pinky McKay
Your Cheeky Monkey
That’s Life
Daily Telegraph (syd)
Knox Journal
PIPA
Berrigan Doube Lawyers
Birthing Sense
All the NICU/SCN nurseries around Australia

Nominations open on the 1st February 2010.

 If you know anyone who is deserving of this award then please nominate them next year!

L’il Aussie Prems is an amazing group so if you have been touched by the birth of a premmie baby, or know someone who has… please jump on their website as there is so much support for friends and families of a prem baby, plus load of information, resources and more. 

The winners this year have certainly touched my heart as I am sure they have yours. 

There are certainly some amazing people in this world.  Congratulations L’il Aussie Prems on a great initiative…. I cant wait to see next years awards!

Warmly

Elizabeth xx