Premmie Baby News – June 2011

Our Newest Sponsor

We are excited to welcome Your Cheeky Monkey as our newest sponsor.

Your Cheeky Monkey is an online store where you will find a super stylish and eco-friendly range of products for you and your new baby. Organic bamboo blankets and wraps, handmade burp cloths and bunny rugs, organic and bamboo rattles and teethers, cloth pads and breastpads, and bibs and nappy wallets. They stock the full range of Sophie the Giraffe products, Cuddledry Organic Towels, and specialise in a wide range of comforters for babies including Cuski and Save Our Sleep.

We thank them very much for their generous and continued support .

To celebrate their sponsorship Your Cheeky Monkey is offering free postage for orders over $35.00 with delivery across Australia. Enter voucher code “LAP” during check-out.

Valid until 30/6/2011

Visit www.yourcheekymonkey.com.au also join their Facebook page

Article – Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)

What is Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)?

RSV is a very common virus that causes cold-like symptoms that can trigger chronic breathing difficulties if the lungs become involved

Who is at risk?

Babies born premature and those with a low birth weight. Also babies with a congenital heart disease; or chronic lung disease. While adults and healthy children can normally cope with the mild cold-like symptoms of an infection, at risk infants are at a high risk of being admitted into hospital. In babies who are born prematurely or who have lung or heart complications, RSV may cause life-threatening conditions requiring intensive care.

How common is RSV?

RSV is the most common cause of lower respiratory tract infections in infants and young children. Up to 90 per cent of bronchiolitis hospitalisations and up to 50 per cent of hospital admissions caused by winter pneumonia are caused by RSV. Diseases of the respiratory system account for the highest proportion of all admissions to hospital in children aged 1-14 years, according to the latest data from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.

What is the worst time of year to catch RSV?

The risk of catching an RSV infection in Australia is at its highest from May to October.

Click here to read further..

(Kindly supplied by the National Premmie Foundation)

Featured Products

Pepi Designs was founded purely from a love of baby and children’s clothing and a passion to re-introduce natural fibers as a staple for every baby’s wardrobe. They have just released the first garments from the 2011 Preemie Range. More garments and sizes are to be added over the coming months, including a 100% Organic Cotton range and smaller sizing for babies under 2kg.

The Preemie Range was designed in mind of when baby is ready to go home, however the garments are more than suitable for hospital wear thanks to their soft velcro closures. The current range is made from Merino & Cotton, completely breathable & perfect for any season. Current sizes are suitable for babies weighing between 2-3kgs. They have an array of garments including a merino hat, sleeping gown, trackie pants and leggings. More designs are soon to be released including cross-over tops – both long and short sleeve, as well as dresses and rompers.

Pepi Designs provides all natural apparel for baby including merino, organic cotton and bamboo garments. They also have a new born – 2 year range which is a great follow on from the Preemie Range. Pepi garments are sustainable, breathable and luxuriously soft and perfect for your little ones delicate skin.

100% Australian designed and manufactured.

Visit www.pepidesigns.com

In The News

Below are recent news articles from around the world.

Flu shot lowers risk for premature delivery

Premature birth gene ‘discovered‘

Mother sacrifices own life for her son

Tears for my lost son

The little battlers

Each breath for baby Eliza is a fight for life

Tatum and Paul Mitchell’s wedding day tinged with sadness

Premmie of the Month – June 2011

Name: Charlie

Where was Charlie born? Charlie was born at West Gippsland Hospital but transferred by the NETS to the Mercy NICU in Heidelberg just a few hours after his birth

What was his gestation? 33+1 weeks

What was his birth weight? 2045 grams

How old is he now? 11 months old

What do you remember most about his time in hospital? I mostly remember the uncertainty of everything. I remember feeling like I’d entered this whole new world that I’d never experienced before. I guess most parents don’t but it’s just not something a parent really thinks about. I remember feeling alone even though there were staff & other parents everywhere. It was all just so overwhelming. I do remember thinking how wonderful the NICU nurses were, they are amazing people. I remember feeling that Charlie was definitely in the right place & that if anything went wrong he would have the best possible care.

Does Charlie have any ongoing health issues?

Charlie does have quite a few ongoing health issues. He has a chromosome 15 deletion. Resulting in global delay & moderate intellectual disability. He also has a moderate hole in the collective chambers of his heart & hypospadias. His vision is low. He has poor muscle tone. Despite all of this, he’s a really happy little boy.

What has been your proudest moment since Charlie came home? My proudest moment since bringing Charlie home was when he first smiled at me. He was around 6 months old.