Ways to help Premature Babies
Premature Babies are little fighters. They have fought to survive. We need to do anything and everything we can do to help them. Doing something helps them and helps us to heal the hurt and the memories of what has happened. It can be part of the healing process.
1. This Site - Premature Babies UK
This web site has been running since June 2000. During this time many e-mails and messages have been received to say that it is doing what was intended, that is, helping others. Because of the time involved in maintaining the site it would be useful if you could provide help such as:
- keeping me informed of web links or new research, news etc.
- be prepared to offer support to others by e-mail or our Yahoo group etc.
- I am also looking for support from the medical professions. I am often asked questions that I can't answer and would love to have someone to pass them on to.
- I would be grateful for any articles that you may want to write these can be written using a word processing package and e-mailed to me.
If you can help in anyway then please do not hesitate to contact me. Thank You
2. By giving of your time.
Helping organisations and campaigns such as Tommy's, and Bliss, Blue Peter etc.
Knitting clothes, hats for premature babies in Special Care Baby Units and also for premature babies at home.
Making/donating clothes for premature babies. Clothes in hospitals are washed many times and have to be tumble-dried which reduces the life of the clothes. (First size/Newborn clothes may also be suitable for larger babies in special care units.
3. Fundraising and Donations
- Donating premature baby clothes to Special Care Baby Units. Ask the units what they need.
- By collecting alumunium cans/foil for recycling.
- Donating toys for other children of parents of premature babies to play with while they are visiting the Special Care Baby Units.
- By giving a donation to organisations such as BLISS or Tommy's. or the local special care baby unit
- By taking part in organised sponsored events such as Tommy's Splashathon. Katie has completed her second Splashathon for http://www.tommys.org/. My husband completed the Three Welsh Peaks challenge for our local Special Care Baby Unit in July 2007.
4. Understanding
A Premature Birth is not the same as a normal one - parents need all the support they can get.
- Don't be surprised if mothers want to cuddle their babies all the time - they have probably spent a long distressing time without them. Often they are told by nurses when they can hold their babies and for how long. One of the most terrible feelings because you want to stay and hold them all the time.
5. Helping
Helping parents to cope by helping with housework, looking after other siblings, shopping etc. Siblings are naturally left out and often don't understand what is going on. Special Care Baby Units and not the best places to have other children in.
By donating Breast Milk which can help premature babies.
6. By giving blood. (Blood is often used to help premature babies).
did you know that "one platelet donation will help over eight tiny babies"
for England and North Wales
website: http://www.blood.co.uk/
Welsh Blood Service
7. Be part of a support group for parents/children in the same situation or if there isn't want start one.
Even when you don't feel the need to be part on one you can help others that are going through the same experience.
8. Campaign for the rights of premature babies and their families.
Sign the petition to be sent to the Prime Minister to orovide early educational assessments for children born prematurely whilst at primary school. More details
Submitted by Alan Gurbutt – Deadline to sign up by: 18 December 2008
http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/SENProvision/
Tommy's has many suggestions on how you can help.