Fight for Preemies – An Australian Perspective

During November, March of Dimes, an American organization with a mission to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality around the world, in conjunction with L'il Aussie Prems & Blogcatalog’s – Bloggers Unite, has invited bloggers from all around the world to spread the word on premature birth awareness.

According to March of Dimes White Paper, The Global and Regional Toll of Preterm Birth, Australia's current premature birth rate is 6.4% with the highest rate of 11.9 % in Africa. Globally 12.9 million babies are born prematurely and an estimated 28 percent of the 4 million annual neonatal deaths due to preterm births.

Taking up the Bloggers Unite challenge, this is my story.

My first experience with nursing newborns was at St Margaret's Hospital, Surry Hills, Sydney, in the '70s as part of my training to become a registered nurse at St Vincent's Hospital Darlinghurst. But in no way did it prepare me for what I was to witness and take part in, during my time at Westmead Hospital in 1980.

There, I had the privilege of working in the neonatal intensive care unit as a student midwife. The biggest impact on me here, was how a child, born well before it’s time, could fit in the palm of my hand. Closely followed by this was the strength of the parents, especially the mothers. As their babies fought their battles to stay alive, so did the parents fight, with dogged determination, to be there for them, day in and day out.

Distressing as it was, experienced trained midwives went about their business with professionalism and dignity, with many forming extremely strong bonds with the little mites under their care.

As a parent of two infant boys at the time, we were lucky not to hit the hurdle of premature birth, although one son suffered from a severe chest infection very early on. No measure of hospital treatment could overcome this totally, until we took him home where he learnt that Arnott's biscuits were not only good for the soul but for his body as well!

Finally, please follow the image and text links to help YOU spread the word on premature birth awareness, to learn more about premature births and to support the health care professionals and volunteers who work tirelessly caring and supporting the babies unfortunate to be born well before their time, and, their loving and devoted parents.

To be continued...