Too Little Too Soon is a 94 page complete ebook guide to prevent, understand and care for a Premmie written specifically for families in Australia by Daisy Fernandes Sequeira. You can never be fully prepared for the birth of a premature baby so this ebook is a wonderful guide for families before and after they have given birth prematurely.

Snapshot

* Genes linked to Prematurity
* Signs and Symptoms
* Risks and Casual Factors
* Importance of Early Diagnosis
* Preventing and Delaying Premature Birth
* Things to Expect
* Types of Care
* Preparing to meet a Premmie Baby in the NICU
* Studying Clinical aspects of a premature baby
* Challenges and gifts ofa premature child
* The Emotional Rollercoaster
* Practical tips for Parents

…and much much more

Price: $17.00 for ebook with 25% being generiously donated to L’il Aussie Prems from each ebook purchased.

Visit www.meandmylittlebaby.com

Pumpkin Patch has introduced Prem & Tiny Prem sizes to their baby basics collections available through their website and in stores.

Please note: Tiny Prem sizes are only available in bobysuits

To view more Pumpkin Patch fashion, visit www.pumpkinpatch.com.au

Become a fan of Pumpkin Patch AU on Facebook

Our website is proudly sponsored by Pumpkin Patch Australia

To enter
The eeni meeni miini moh Pure Newborn collection comes in three colours – what are they? The answer can be found in their online store.  Enter the competition using our online form below to be in the running to win this fabulous prize.

Entries close on the 10th September 2010.

Toby Clarke is our 2nd runner up Local Premmie Hero Award Winner

Toby organised an event called “butts on bikes for bubs” where a group of 10 riders rode from Melbourne to Adelaide to raise money for medical equipment for the Flinders Medical Centre NICU in South Australia. Toby is quite humble,  giving by nature and saw this ride as a way for him to give back to the community and people touched by premature birth. Toby took along 9 other riders who are all amateurs at long distance riding and under Toby’s guidance and motivation they took on the challenge in May 2010.

The ride went fantastic and the riders had every bit of weather imaginable from head winds reaching 40km/h, to torrential down pours. They also had  a little bingle that saw two of the riders sustain minor injuries, yet everyone soldiered on and completed this fantastic challenge. The team organised the event and raised over $52,000 with money still coming in, a sensational effort from Toby and the dedicated team.

Toby was thrilled with the unexpected news and humbly said that this award goes to all his fellow riders who made this ride the amazing success it turned out to be.

Congratulations to Toby and his team and thank you!

Toby has won a $150 RedBalloon gift certificate, movie tickets (to the value of $55.00) and he will receive a uniquely designed medal & framed certificate.

Parool Shah is our 1st runner up Local Premmie Hero Award Winner

In 2003 Parool had a prem baby boy, at the time there was no support available to parents and Parool decided she had to change this, so in 2005 she along with 5 others started the charity Lifes Little Treasures of which she is now president. LLT aims to provide support, friendship and assistance throughout Victoria to families of children born prematurely. 

She works tirelessly to provide the support network that families require on leaving hospital & most importantly strives to create awareness amongst the community of the journey these precious children & their families find themselves on. Over the years she has made many personal sacrifices because what LLT stood for was so important to her & her beliefs. If she not on the phone she on the email 24/7, always working even on holidays!. Her ultimate wish is to provide information, support and encouragement to families with premature babies, empowering them to achieve the best outcomes for their children. She is always available when needed by a family & will do everything in her power to assist them.

In 2007 she played a major role in the founding of the National Premmie Foundation.

She is an inspiration to all at LLT and her great passion & leadership is what has enabled LLT to assist hundreds of families and grow to become one the largest hands on premature charities. She has a dream and is well on the way to fulfilling it. She’ll never take no for an answer! “We are blessed to have her on our side” said Shusannah…

www.lifeslittletreasures.org.au

Thank you Parool and congratulations!

Parool has won a $250 RedBalloon gift certificate, a beautiful flower arrangement (to the value of $55.00) and she will receive a uniquely designed medal & framed certificate.

Stephanie Freeman is our 2010 Premmie Hero Award Winner.

Stephanie was born in 1996 at 31 weeks gestation. She weighed just over 1kg. Stephanie and her identical twin sister were immediately rushed to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at the Mater Mothers’ Hospital in Brisbane. Stephanie was experiencing breathing difficulties and required ventilation. However, over the following weeks she survived and thrived and was finally allowed home six weeks after her birth.

From the age of 12 months until 5 years of age Stephanie suffered from numerous hospital admissions due to breathing difficulties and allergies. During this time she was desperately underweight and always looked unwell. Finally at aged 5, two ENT (ear, nose and throat) operations helped her to overcome her problems and since that time she has never looked back. From that time on she has taken every opportunity to enjoy life, be involved in numerous sports and to help other community members.

Stephanie is now aged nearly 14 and is an athletic, healthy teenager. In 2007 aged 11, Stephanie decided she needed to do something to help other premature babies. She signed up to fundraise for the Mater Mothers’ Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. The unit which helped her and her twin sister so much in their first weeks of life. She went to visit the unit and looking at the premature babies made Stephanie aware of just how small and fragile she had been when she was first born. It was an eye opener for her to see all the machinery connected to these tiny babies helping to keep them alive.
Since that day Stephanie has worked over 100 hours annually to fundraise for the unit. Without corporate contacts her fundraising has been through an enormous amount of time and effort.

Stephanie initiated, organised and coordinated a sponsored swim. Stephanie gained the support of the Albany Creek Swim Club who participated in this event. The Albany Creek Masters Swim Club was so impressed at all of her hard work that they volunteered to also participate in the sponsored swim. She has gained the support and sporting memorabilia for raffles or auction from six Olympic swimmers Libby Trickett, Stephanie Rice, Jessica Schipper, Bronte Barratt, Leith Brodie, Kylie Palmer and World Swimming gold medalist Trent Grimsey. She has also gained the support of the swimming organisation ‘Swimming Queensland’. Swimming Queensland was so impressed at all her fundraising that they donated a framed print signed by 19 of Australia’s top swimmers. Stephanie organised for the print to be auctioned off at one of the premier fundraising events in Brisbane. Stephanie has coordinated and organised raffle tickets to be sold over the week long State Swimming Championships at the Sleeman Aquatic Centre in Chandler. She not only spent numerous hours selling tickets herself but organised other swim club members to work alongside her. Stephanie has also organised and run numerous stalls selling Mater Little Miracle Merchandise at local shopping centres and sporting venues. Mater little Miracle Merchandise is soft toy dogs, pens, keyrings etc which have the Mater Hospital logo on them. She has gained the support of the local Eatons Hill Primary School which held a free dress day and the school donated half of the money raised to her fundraising. She has also collected donations from numerous sporting events and local businesses, organised and run Australia Day BBQs, raffles and also participated in a sponsored triathlon. To date Stephanie has raised $15,000 for the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

Stephanie has also highlighted and promoted the work carried out by the Neonatal Intensive care unit. She has highlighted the need for fundraising to be carried out for the hospital. This has been through numerous newspaper and magazine articles and web site information. The Mater Mothers’ Hospital acknowledged her dedication to her fundraising and her promotion of the hospital. They awarded her a Mater Star Award in 2008 and 2009, the Mater Fundraising Challenge Spirit Award 2009 and the Mater Little Miracles Award 2010.

Stephanie’s efforts have also extended to help the parents and siblings of premature and sick babies cared for at the Mater Mothers’ Hospital. She involved the local community to collect items needed for Ronald McDonald House in South Brisbane. Ronald McDonald House is a home away from home for families who do not live in Brisbane but they are able to stay at the House while their baby is requiring hospital treatment. She was highly successful collecting a vast amount of much needed items such as bathroom items and toiletries, kitchen items and food, new toys and books.

Through all of Stephanie’s efforts she ensures that everyone associated with the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit is assisted. Her fundraising is used to assist the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit through equipment bought for the Unit and for research and hospital projects. The public has been made aware of the need for fundraising to be carried out and encouraged to participate. The parents and siblings of the premature babies are also assisted through the donation of a vast amount of items to ensure their stay at Ronald McDonald House is made as comfortable and as homely as possible.

She was the premature baby who is now helping other premature babies and their families. Her strength and determination in her efforts to help other premature babies and their families, is the same strength and determination she showed when she was first born.

Stephanie is a State level swimmer and is also involved in athletics, cross country running and tennis. She is in Grade 10 at school, 12 months ahead of her peers. She is involved in numerous community and environmental voluntary work. Her story hopefully is an inspiration to other parents who are struggling with the difficulties associated with having a premature baby. The difficulties she endured during the first five years of her life are behind her and she shows that a difficult start to life is no barrier to what a person can achieve.

Congratulations Stephanie and thank you!

Stephanie has won a $500 RedBalloon gift certificate, movie tickets to the value of $75,  and she will receive a uniquely designed trophy & framed certificate.

Our 2009 Premmie Hero Award Winners

In February 2010 nominations were open to find Australia’s “local premmie heroes”. The awards were created by parents of premature babies in 2009 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 we are thrilled to announce the winners of L’il Aussie Prems “Local Premmie Hero Awards” for 2010.

Congratulations to all our nominees. We hope you continue to support our families because you are making a difference everyday. Thank you for your dedication.

Click on the image to read their amazing stories

Thank you to our Premmie Hero Award Sponsors. Without their support the 2010 awards would not have been possible.

Thank you to our Judges

Sophie Smith – (2009 Premmie Hero Winner)
Trish Watt
Pinky McKay
Peter Dubiez
Rebecca Waterhouse

Special Thanks to

L’il Aussie Prem Members and the wonderful parents who helped to organise our 2010 awards.

And to the amazing people, websites and businesses below, we appreciate your support

Essential Baby

89.9 LightFM

National Premmie Foundation

Lifes Little Treasures

The BubHub

Huggies Australia

My Child Magazine

Australian Community of Child Photographers

New Idea Magazine

That’s Life Magazine

Peekaboo Magazine

Little OneBaby Magazine

Knox Journal Newspaper

Knox Leader Newspaper

All the NICU/SCN nurseries around Australia

]]> http://www.lilaussieprems.com.au/premmie-hero-winners-list/feed/ 0 http://www.lilaussieprems.com.au/premmie-baby-study/ http://www.lilaussieprems.com.au/premmie-baby-study/#comments Mon, 24 May 2010 01:43:17 +0000 admin http://www.lilaussieprems.com.au/?p=3856 The University of Queensland are recruiting mothers of babies (<24 months corrected age) born preterm (<37 weeks gestation) to complete questionnaires via a web-based survey. A web-based survey allows the mother to complete the questionnaires in her own home at a time convenient to her. All responses will be completely anonymous as no identifying details will be recorded. The survey will take approximately 20 minutes to complete. The questionnaires will ask about; the mother’s expectations before the premmie birth, the mother’s experiences during hospitalisation, coping strategies, the mother’s feelings, the spousal relationship (if applicable) and the mother’s current feelings around parenting.

What makes a mother a happy, confident mother of a premmie baby?
Researchers at the University of Queensland have been conducting focus groups with parents of premmie babies to explore their unique parenting experiences. Inspired by parents stories of challenges and resilience we want to further explore some of the issues that parents have raised. In particular, we want to know what factors contribute to making the mother of a premmie baby a happy and confident mother.

Can you participate?
We are recruiting mothers of babies (<24 months corrected age) born preterm (<37 weeks gestational age).

What does participation involve?
Participation involves completing a web-based survey. We’ve chosen a web-based survey because it allows you to complete the questionnaires in your own home at a time convenient to you. All responses will be completely anonymous as no identifying details will be recorded. The survey will take approximately 20 minutes to complete. The questionnaires will ask about; your expectations before the premmie birth, your experiences during hospitalisation, coping strategies, your feelings, your spousal relationship (if applicable) and your current feelings around parenting. The web-address for the survey is: http://exp.psy.uq.edu.au/premstudy

What are the benefits?
We hope that this research will inform clinicians about ways that they can better support parents.

If you would like any further information about this study please contact us and we will forward further details to you.

KEMH runs a group at the hospital with babies who spent time in the NICU/SCN. Contact KEMH for details.

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Please contact us if you have a premmie playgroup and would like it added to our website.

Burnie, Devonport, Hobart or Launceston

If your child was born prematurely you may wish to bring them to a playgroup run by the Early Childhood Intervention Service

Visit the following website for contact details www.education.tas.gov.au

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Please contact us if you have a premmie playgroup and would like it added to our website.

To find a premature baby support playgroup/morning tea in your area please click on your state.

Each playgroup listed aims to provide support & friendship to families who have given birth prematurely & sick newborns who have spent time in the NICU/SCN.

If you attend a premature baby playgroup please contact us if you would like the groups details added to the website.

VIC

QLD

NSW

SA

TAS

WA

NT

ACT

If you wish to add your playgroup to our list please contact admin@lilaussieprems.com.au with the full details.

Please also visit Playgroup Australia for lists of further playgroups available around your area.

View the amazing photos below of children born at 29 weeks gestation from the first few weeks of life in hospital to being at home with their families. Each premature baby has a unique journey and we hope this area will give you inspiration for the road ahead.

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Name: Tamara
Gestation Born: 29 weeks
Weight: 1635g
Time spent in hospital: 57 days
Age Now: 24 months

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Name: Sienna Katalin
Gestation Born: 29 weeks
Weight: 1570 grams
Time spent in hospital: 54 days
Age Now: 2 yrs old

______________________

If you would like to submit photos of your premature baby please fill out the following form.

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Name: Hudson Hough
Gestation Born: 23 weeks 4 days
Weight: 580 grams
Time spent in hospital: 163 days
Age Now: 3 years 10 months (actual) 3 years 6 months (corrected)

_______________________

If you would like to submit photos of your premature baby please fill out the following form.

View the amazing photos below of children born at 24 weeks gestation from the first few weeks of life in hospital to being at home with their families. Each premature baby has a unique journey and we hope this area will give you inspiration for the road ahead.

_____________________

Name: Rachel
Gestation Born: 24+2 weeks
Weight: 669 grams
Time spent in hospital: 121 days
Age Now: 2.5yrs

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If you would like to submit photos of your premature baby please fill out the following form