It's time to lend premature babies a hand, says charity

Observing Prematurity Awareness Month, Australian charity, Life’s Little Treasures Foundation, is calling on the community to get informed on the issue to better support parents of premature babies.

"Every year in Australia, around 21,000 infants are born prematurely and admitted to neonatal intensive and special care units – which is around 59 babies a day,"said Parool Shah, Founding director of Life’s Little Treasures Foundation and mum to premature baby Luke.

"Frighteningly, 1,300 of these babies weigh under 1000 grams - less than a bag of sugar.” One million babies worldwide die each year as a result of their early birth. For those babies who are lucky enough to survive a premature birth, it often means months, years or even a lifetime of complications.

"It’s therefore no surprise that a premature birth also places an immense toll emotionally, physically, and financially on families,"said Shah.

"Unfortunately there is a vast lack of knowledge and understanding in the community about what’s involved in caring for a premature baby, and many families simply aren’t blessed with the practical and emotional support they need to help achieve the best health outcomes for their baby.

"That’s why we are asking everyone to take time out during these last days of Prematurity Awareness Month to find out how they can support a parent in need.

"A preterm birth will directly or indirectly touch all of us at some stage in our life, and by being better informed on the issue we’re one step closer to reducing the shocking mortality statistics.”

Founded in 2005 by parents of premature babies, the Life’s Little Treasures Foundation believes that information, education and resources are key to helping achieve the best outcomes for premature babies and empower their families.

In line with this belief, the Foundation has developed an Application called the Premature Baby Journal. The first of its kind, the Application helps parents keep track of their baby’s milestones and the many activities they as parents of a premature baby need to do on a daily basis, both in the hospital and once they have returned home. The Application is currently being reviewed by Apple and, once approved, will be available for purchase
and download.

In further support of Prematurity Awareness Month, the Foundation recently held the successful "Walk for Prems"national fun run/walk. The charity event was attended by more than 2,300 people around Australia, raising awareness and valuable funds to improve the lives of premature or sick babies and their families.

About Life’s Little Treasures Foundation: The Life’s Little Treasures Foundation operates nationally to provide information, support, friendship and assistance to families of premature and sick babies. Resources developed by the Foundation include a 24 hour information and support line (1300 MY PREMMIE), information and education based community support groups and a range of online factsheets. For more details or to make a donation to this vital cause, visit: www.lifeslittletreasures.org.au