Neonatal Unit marks World Prematurity Day
On Monday (17 November) mums, dads, babies and children joined staff from our Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) to mark World Prematurity Day.
The day is aimed at raising awareness of babies who are born too soon. To mark the day, staff from the unit held a special cake sale and invited parents, who have previously been on the unit, and their babies, to join them for the celebrations.
More than 50 families came along for the celebration.
Róisín McKeon-Carter, Clinical Director for the Unit,said: “The parents themselves organised this event with our fundraiser Tracey Clark through the Plymouth Precious Poppets group.
“In the early days, when parents have premature babies, it is difficult for them to see anything ahead. They have to be focused on the here and now, taking once day at a time. It can be such a difficult journey for them and it is lovely to get them back together, when the children have left hospital and are growing up, to see their progress.”
Róisín continued: “We have between 500-550 babies come here every year from across the five units in the peninsula.
“While some premature babies go on to need ongoing support from the NHS as they grow, others grow to give back. Two of the babies I looked after 22 years ago, twins, are now paediatric nurses. I am so proud of them.
“Seeing everyone in the room today gives me goose-bumps. It makes me feel that emotional. Some premature babies are born so small, weighing 500g with skin like tissue paper. When you care for babies like that and their parents, you become like an extended family. I love my job. I want to do my very best for these families.”
Lisa Furlong, who came along with Lily Langdon who is almost two, who was born at 27 weeks and is a twin with sister Charlotte. Lisa set up the Plymouth Precious Poppets group which supports parents, raises funds and awareness of prematurity.
Lisa said: “I couldn’t fault the care received and can’t thank the staff enough. I’m delighted to see so many of the staff who mean so much to me.”
Some of the families who came along yesterday have kindly shared their stories with us, click here to read them.
Photos from the event can be found here.
