THOSE babies who just couldn’t wait to see the world were celebrated at St John of God Hospital in Berwick on Wednesday 9 April.
Fourteen families who have used the premature baby/Special Care Nursery services at St John of God Berwick’s joined the nursery team leader and neonatal midwife Janet Corley for a green-themed morning tea.
Ms Corley welcomed back all the bubs and said it was great to see them all in such good health.
“It’s wonderful to see our babies looking healthy, happy and having gained weight,” she said.
“Seeing our parents relaxed and settling into family life is very special to me, after what can be a worrying time for parents in those first days and weeks.”
Wear Green for Premmies Day is a national event led by the L’il Aussie Prem Foundation and this is the second year the event has run at St John of God.
St John of God Berwick Hospital can care for babies from 34 weeks’ gestation and 1700 grams in weight.
The level two Special Care Nursery is fully equipped to treat sick babies and babies who have a low birth weight.
The nursery has round-the-clock care provided by specialist neonatal midwives and paediatricians.
In the last financial year, more than 1000 babies have been delivered at St John of God in Berwick.
With the increased number of deliveries, this has meant that many more babies delivered require Special Care Nursery services.
Premature births are part of the seven obstetricians and one general-practitioner’s responsibility at the hospital.
Staff at the hospital are aware that the birth of a premature baby can be frightening, and they welcomed the morning tea to celebrate the health and wellbeing of the infants.
Ms Corley said there was now better awareness about how to care for babies born prematurely.
“Premature labour is still not fully understood and can sometimes happen spontaneously in an otherwise healthy mother,” she said.
“Thanks to modern medicine, babies who are born early now have the best chance in life compared to 20 years ago.”
