The BubBE Book

Welcoming a baby into the world is an extraordinary experience in itself...however the arrival of a baby prematurely can make it utterly overwhelming!  The BubBE Book has been created by Natasha Bowden, a Western Australian mother of a 23 weeker to provide a source of information, inspiration, guidance and hope for the family and friends of Bubs Born Early, otherwise known as BubBE's! The BubBE Book has been created to be a guiding hand along the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) journey.  It is essentially a 'baby book' for the premature child and their parents, in which all of the unique experiences that come with being born, or having a child, prematurely can be recorded. 

Tiny Sparks WA have worked with Natasha and are excited to add this wonderful journal to our shop. We are very grateful that 20% of the sale price of these books through our website will be a donation to Tiny Sparks WA. A fantastic way to give back to our community. Thank you Natasha!

Natasha also has other BubBE items on her website www.BubBornEarly.com.au such as car window clings and stickers.

 

Mother's Day 2015

Sunday 10th May 2015 is Mother's Day in Australia. A day we recognise all our wonderful Mums and acknowledge all things that make them special.

We give special thoughts to those Mums who may be experiencing their first Mother's Day sitting by their babies crib in a neonatal unit, those Mums who are torn between their children at home and their sick baby in a neonatal intensive care unit or special care unit, those Mums who will never get to hold their babies in their arms.

This year, Tiny Sparks WA has provided gifts to mothers with babies in all the major neonatal units across Western Australia including King Edward Memorial Hospital, Princess Margaret Hospital Unit, Fiona Stanley Hospital, St John of God Subiaco and Joondalup Hospital.

This gift includes a special card so that the neonatal nurses can create a footprint for the Mums, and a cute cookie cutter shaped into babies feet.

We hope Mums currently visiting their babies in neonatal units know that we are thinking them on this special day.

“A mother is she who can take the place of all others but whose place no one else can take”
— Cardinal Mermillod

BLOOD DONATIONS HELP PREMATURE BABIES

You wouldn't know it by looking at Judith Talbot, an adventurous woman and keen sports person, but Judith was born at only 29 weeks gestation and spent the first weeks of her life at King Edward Memorial Hospital (KEMH) in 1984. Judith revealed her prematurity to friend and Tiny Sparks WA board member Michelle Giles after Michelle gave birth to a baby girl at 25 weeks gestation in 2012; Michelle would have otherwise never been aware of Judith's early start to life.

Judith Talbot (Pictured left)

Judith Talbot (Pictured left)

The Neuroscience Occupational Therapist, who also holds a degree in Business Administration and a Masters of Health Industry Management, is a testament to both the care provided at KEMH and the strong will of babies born too soon. Now, 31 years later, Judith not only makes a difference to people's lives through her work, but also by regularly donating blood products.

Many of the earliest premature babies will require multiple life saving blood transfusions during their time in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), including the recently reported premature baby boy, born at 26 weeks gestation, who received a staggering 58 blood transfusions at Monash Hospital before being well enough to be discharged. Assisting in the treatment of these premature babies is only one of many ways that blood and blood products can help thousands of people across Australia.

Judith has singled handedly helped hundreds; since starting at age 16 she has donated blood or plasma an amazing 105 times, inspired by her father who has surpassed 400 donations.

Of donating blood products, Judith says:  

"The experience will change your life. Knowing you can give someone a gift that you can't put a price on is quite an overwhelming and humbling experience. Donating blood only takes 10 minutes and it will leave your face radiating with a smile for the rest of the day."
A very small blood transfusion for a premature baby

A very small blood transfusion for a premature baby

Tiny Sparks WA congratulates Judith on her dedication to donating blood products and wishes her all the best in reaching her goal of 200 donations before the age of 35.

Supporters and friends of Tiny Sparks WA can assist premature babies and other people in need of blood products by contacting the Red Cross on 13 14 95 to make an appointment to donate blood.

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Going Home After a NICU Stay - Workshop

Taking your baby home after a stay in a Neonatal Unit can be very different to taking your baby home after the birth of a healthy newborn. Whilst both can be a challenging experience for parents, taking your baby home after weeks or months in a Neonatal Unit comes with a unique set of considerations. Many parents have these types of questions:

How can I help protect my baby from germs?
I'm afraid to let other people hold my baby - how do I deal with visitors?
What do I tell people when they ask me how old my baby is?
What happens when I return to KEMH or PMH for appointments? Will we be in a waiting room with sick children?
I'm nervous about having my baby home without monitors. How can I reassure myself? Do I need to buy a breathing monitor?
How long will by baby be followed up for?

This forum style workshop, conducted by Tiny Sparks WA Board Member Michelle Giles, mother to ex-25 weeker Olivia, will discuss these issues and allow you an opportunity to ask questions, or discuss, any concerns you have surrounding taking your baby home. The workshop is open to all parents who currently have a baby in a Neonatal Unit in WA or have taken a baby home after a stay in a Neonatal Unit in recent months.

All attendees will receive a FREE gift bag on the night containing items useful for going home, including a bulk pack of Aqium hand sanitiser kindly donated by Ego Pharmaceuticals and nappy samples donated by BabyLove and much more.

To register your attendance at this FREE workshop to be held on Tuesday 12th May 2015 at 7pm, please click here.

We look forward to seeing you there!

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Online Support for Parents of Neonatal Unit (NICU/SCN) Babies in WA

Today we launched an online Facebook Group 'Tiny Sparks WA Neonatal Unit (NICU/SCN) Support Group'. The aim of the group is to provide a network of parents who have a baby in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) or Special Care Nursery (SCN) in Western Australia. Families can share information, ask questions, be a listening post, and provide general peer support in what is a very lonely, scary time.

We hope you will join our community if you currently have or had a baby(s) in a Neonatal Unit (NICU/SCN). Note that membership of this group is subject to approval by one of the Administrators, a Tiny Sparks WA volunteer. If you are not added by an existing member, you will receive a private message requesting you to provide background as to why you wish to join. Please check your 'Other Messages' folder and respond as soon as is practicable.