Hillcrest Private Hospital recently celebrated their first Premmie Day on Saturday 23 November for 17 special babies, all of whom had started life too early in our NICU, with moms, dads and family members who gathered to meet, share and celebrate.
Talks by paediatrician, Dr John Flett, Dr Nadia Khan, and Dr Jay Narsai and Liz Victor from Top Tots addressed issues that parents of premature babies face and provided helpful information on what to do and expect.
For the nurses in the Neonatal Unit it was a wonderful opportunity to once again see all the babies that they had spent so much time with and nursed so carefully.
These included two very special babies: little Alanis Conway, born at 26 weeks and weighing 640g; and tiny Michaela Dlamini who was born at 25 weeks and weighed a mere 540g.
Each year, 15 million babies worldwide are born too soon. World Prematurity Day is celebrated annually worldwide on 17 November as an opportunity to raise awareness of preterm birth.
The rate of preterm birth is increasing and yet the general public knows little about the prevention of preterm birth and the problems and risks involved in the development of a preterm infant.
Preterm or premature birth (birth before 37 weeks gestation) is the second leading cause of newborn death globally. Babies who survive an early birth often face the increased risk of health challenges such as breathing problems, cerebral palsy, intellectual disabilities and many other hurdles.
For many families, preterm birth brings with it neonatal or infant loss.
For more information visit www.hillcresthospital.co.za.
