Dec 05 2008

Spotlight on ~ L’il Aussie Prems Supporting Premature babies

Published by Elizabeth under Premature Baby

 

L’il Aussie Prems was created in March 2007 by a passionate mum of a premature baby, Julia Toivonen. 

Julia’s son, Ronan was born at 27 weeks gestation and spent over 3 months in hospital. After the rollercoaster ride of NICU life and along with 12 years of online experience Julia created the site from scratch. The site offers a premature baby forum for support, articles, birth stories, galleries, premmie of the moment, live chats, birth announcements, blogs, monthly newsletters and much more. Since the site was created it now reaches many families of premature and SCN babies. The forum has reached over 660 members from Australia and world wide. Many of the members have created playgroups and friendships not only within their state but also online.

 

In January 2008 Julia won the “local hero” award in her local council for the work that she has done to help premmie baby families. Julia is heavily involved not only with her website but is also on the committee for the National Premmie Foundation and also Lifes Little Treasures, both are charities that work at providing support for families throughout Australia.

 

L’il Aussie Prems is forever evolving and bringing more support for families. Until recently Julia was doing majority of the work on the website herself with updates and adding new content onto the website but with recently giving birth to her 2nd child she now has wonderful parents on board to help with the workload. Julia has done an amazing job and her passion for helping families of premature babies shines through her amazing website.   

 

If you wish to speak and meet with other families of premature babies I would recommend that you join the premature baby forum and whilst you are there take a look through the website. You will be amazed at how much support is available to you.

 

 There are some amazing support online for parents, families and friends of premature babies, and we have had the pleasure of giving you a little insight into Julia and L’il Aussie Prems.  Please support her and her site as she is a great support to La Toriana and our premmie baby catagory showcasing stylish and affordable premmie baby clothing and products.

Warmly  Elizabeth xx

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Nov 28 2008

Introducing “The Zaky” ~ Newborn & Premature baby comfort pillow

Published by Elizabeth under Premature Baby

La Toriana introduces “The Zaky”

Ergonomic & award-winning bonding, therapeutic, comforting, positioning aid, as well as transitional item.

Also proven to assist with sleep, pain management, and your child’s physical/psychological development.
Imitates the touch, scent, weight, and warmth of your hands, helping your child even when you are away.

It is a soft but heavy pillow that imitates the look, feel, weight, scent, and warmth of the parents’ hand and forearm. It assures proper positioning, helps with pain management and sleep, provides a sense of protection, and assists with the physical and psychological development of the child.

It is all about feeling safe, loved, and protected:
When mums are pregnant, babies get four basic needs met from the womb: oxygen (breathing), warmth, nutrition, and protection.  The lack of at least one of the first three is life threatening.  At birth, babies that cannot do the first three on their own, they will get assistance from a machine (life support): if the baby cannot breath he is hooked up to a ventilator, if he cannot get warm he is placed in an incubator, and if he cannot eat he would have an IV or a feeding tube. Lack of PROTECTION, however, is not life-threatening but it is extremely important for his development. Protection, when not given by the womb, comes best from the touch, voice, boundaries, warmth, and scent given by the mother and father. No matter the size of the baby, he cannot comfort or position himself at birth, nor he is able to feel protected on his own - Contrary to popular believe, a baby is unable to “manipulate” the parents - sometimes all the baby needs is a hug and a touch that means “you are not alone”.

When the baby is not being held, The Zaky simulates the hands by weighing 500 grams, while providing boundaries, comfort, a soothing hand,allowing the baby to feel and a sense of protection 24/7.

It is proven that babies sleep better with the Zaky:
As an adult, you can’t sleep when you are stressed – babies are no different – they rest better when they feel protected and comfortable,however, you cannot hold him or swaddle restraining his movement 24/7, so give your baby a pair of Zakys that feel and, if possible, smell like you, until is time to hold him again!

When you are busy or away, The Zaky simulates your presence and helps you bond with your
child.  Moreover, it has been successfully used as a bonding and a non-medicinal pain management aid since 2001 in Neonatal Intensive Care Units.  When you are not there, leave a scented Zaky to assure him that he is not alone.

The Zaky is a must have for healthy newborns and for those children that are ill or hospitalised. It is also a favourite newborn baby gift, baby shower gift and a “Thank you” gift given by families to the hospitals that cared for their children

Excellent premmie baby comfort pillow, a premmie baby or newborn baby gift.  Avaliable in the most popular cream, a soft pink or a soft blue, and in either a left hand or right hand.

Check out  “The Zaky”

available at La Toriana in December 08… or email me at info@latoriana.com.au to reserve one.

‘you and your baby will be so glad you did.

Warmly

Elizabeth xx

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Nov 24 2008

National Premature Birth Awareness week

Published by Elizabeth under Premature Baby

 

Solving the puzzle of Premature Birth.  Premature Birth Awareness Week starts today.

Having a premature baby can be a lonely and frightening experience. In our communities there may be very few people who understand the specific problems that parents of babies born very early face.

Sometimes our babies are transferred to hospitals far from home and this can make us feel even more alienated and lost.

Through Austprem, families who have experienced the complex challenges of parenting a premature infant reach out to other families facing this journey, and offer friendship, information and support.

2008 marks the second year of National Premature Birth Awareness Week and we hope that it will be as successful as the first.

As a part of increasing knowledge about premature birth, Austprem Inc. will be offering information to ALL pregnant women in the hope of decreasing the rising numbers of premature births in Australia with Austprem Inc.’s new brochure “Pregnant? It’s probably nothing but it might be something.

 The brochure will be launched during National Premature Birth Awareness Week. and contains a summary of the indications that may lead to premature birth and encourages women to check with their doctor, hospital or health care provider if they are at all concerned.

 Premature Birth Awareness Week starts today. Visit www.bornearly.org.au for full details.

Useful Premmie Information Links

      Austprem

Featherweight Club – Mercy Hospital for Women VIC
Lifes Little Treasures – VIC
Loddon Mallee Kids – Greater Bendigo Area VIC

Little Wonders – John Hunter Hospital NSW
Central Coast Premmie and Sick Newborn Support (CCPSNS) – Central Coast NSW
Miracle Babies – Liverpool Hospital NSW
NNICUPS – Nepean Hospital NSW

PIPA – QLD

L’il Aussie Prems

National Premmie Foundation

Moment by Moment

 Having had 3 premmie babies myself, I understand only too well the rollercoaster journey many families go through.  I am very passionate about supporting groups that support premmie babies and hope you are too.  Please support them by going to their websites and  gain lots of information. 

At La Toriana, we have a specialised catagory for premmie baby and are adding new premmie clothing and products all the time.  Our aim is to be a supportive place where people can shop for their premmie baby in a secure, supportive and understanding environment.

The above groups are amazing in their wealth of knowledge and support and we encourage you all to support those who support the families of premmie babies.  La Toriana in the near future will bring more and more information on the support of premmie babies, an array of new ranges of premature baby clothing and tips an advice along the way.  We are passionate about Premmie babies, their families and helping the community.

 

warmly

Elizabeth xx

(some of the products and premmie baby clothing collections found at (La Toriana)

 

We would love to hear your journeys and thoughts, travels and pics of your journey.  We will be posting some stories here on our blog in the coming weeks and months with events around Premature babies, so if you would like to join in… please email  info@latoriana.com.au

 

warmly

Elizabeth xx

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