September Recap: Raising NICU Awareness, Supporting Families and Family Fun Walk
In September, our organisation joined the global movement to raise awareness about Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICU) and the incredible work of the staff within them. As part of our commitment to supporting families with children in the NICU, we visited Bertha Gxowa Hospital in Johannesburg, Gauteng Province and Mankweng Hospital in Limpopo Province, Polokwane to donate Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) wraps in collaboration with Safeline Pharmaceuticals https://www.safeline.co.za/ As the organisation, we constantly emphasize the importance of skin-to-skin care, a practice which is beneficial for both premature and full-term babies facing complications at birth. This nurturing connection promotes brain development, helps with weight gain, stimulates breast milk production and fosters precious bonding time between parents and their little ones. Additionally, we continue to encourage families to be part of our upcoming Family Fun Walk, open to the public! This event aims to raise awareness about prematurity and encourage community involvement. Join us in this important initiative to learn more about the challenges faced by NICU families and how we can support them. This year will be the third leg in Gauteng, Johannesburg and will be the first of many to come for Mankweng in Limpopo Province. Don’t Miss Out! Be part of a growing tradition that just keeps getting better. This year promises to be our best one yet, more energy, more excitement and more memories to make! Together, let’s continue to make a difference in the lives of NICU families!
NICU Awareness Month
September is NICU awareness month, therefore, our organisation joined the global effort to raise awareness about this life saving unit at the hospitals. Someone who has no experience with the preemie world may wonder what is a NICU? A NEONATAL INTENSIVE CARE UNIT which forms part of the hospital in the maternity ward. Here, our premature infants receive round the clock medical care in the early hours, days, weeks, and months after birth. Because of different medical conditions at birth, some full-term infants sometimes end up in the NICU. Our babies are still in the early stages of development because we delivered prematurely. They require immediate medical attention which is provided for at this specific unit. Nobody really know the exact period of a baby NICU, sometimes the Dr and Nurses work on estimates. It is often determined by the baby development while we all join hands in giving them the support needed. This is a unit that completely changed many people’s life. Premature birth and the NICU experience has had an impact on families. The one unit that is full of mixed emotions and can be overwhelming at times. Doctors and NICU nurses working in this unit are often referred to as our “living angels”. They nurture our children like their own and go the extra mile to comfort each and every family that walks into their doors. We are forever grateful to every medical team member and the bonds created with all the NICU families. “The NICU is a place where the tiniest hands hold the biggest hearts.” Are you a NICU family, would love to hear about your NICU experience