‘Baking for Babies’

For immediate release 16 November 2017

‘Baking for Babies’

Morning Teas provided across New Zealand for World Prematurity Day

Families in, and staff of, neonatal units across New Zealand will be enjoying baked goodies on World Prematurity Day on 17 November.

Volunteers, the vast majority of them the parents of neonatal unit graduates, are providing morning teas and lunches under the co-ordination of The Neonatal Trust.

Justine Brooker, Operations Manager of The Neonatal Trust, which is supporting World Prematurity Day in New Zealand, said: “On 17 November teams will be organising morning teas for the families and the fantastic and dedicated staff in every Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU)”.

“Each year, over 5,000 premature babies and their families make the journey through neonatal intensive care in this country. World Prematurity Day is a chance to celebrate our premature babies and raise awareness of the challenges they and their families face.”

“Part of our celebration of World Prematurity Day is co-ordinating volunteers to organise morning tea for each Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU). This is both for the families of babies in the units and also the wonderful staff who look after the precious babies.”

The Neonatal Trust provides support for families and helps NICUs and SCBUs in practical ways such as providing support resources so they can best understand their journey and the things they can do to help themselves and their baby. Examples of the support provided can be viewed here.

Babies are classified as premature if they are born before 37 weeks gestation. A normal pregnancy lasts 40 weeks. At the extreme end, some are born very early, with several examples of babies born at 24 weeks gestation in neonatal units at the moment.

Premature babies aren’t just small; they often face on-going health challenges. The doctors and nurses in NICUs and SCBUs across New Zealand care for 10 per cent of babies born premature each year along with those full-term babies with issues or complications that require specialist care.

World Prematurity Day helps to thank and celebrate the work they do, caring for the world’s largest child patient groups.

ENDS

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