Christmas party celebrates the lives of premature babies

(Right to Life UK) — A neonatal community outreach team has hosted a Christmas party for premature babies and families who have received care at their hospital.

Just outside Birmingham, Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust’s Neonatal Community Outreach Team (NCOT) provides nursing care and support for unwell and premature babies who have spent time in the neonatal unit and, each month, they run a support group, which first-time mum Madison Johnson and her seven-month-old Jax have just started attending.

In December, they hold a special Christmas party for Walsall’s youngest and bravest patients and families.

Baby Jax weighed just 3lb 8oz when he was born eight weeks prematurely, and spent six and a half weeks in the neonatal unit at Walsall Manor Hospital. He and his mother attended the annual Christmas party, which was an opportunity to come together with other parents and families and share their experiences.

“It’s nice to get out of the house with your baby and to meet other mums who have been through a similar experience to myself”, she said. “As well as being able to come and celebrate my first Christmas with Jax and make it special for him”.

“The staff were amazing on the ward and could not do enough for Jax or me. I can’t thank them enough”, Madison said.

Consultant paediatrician Dr Tamsin Lane, one of the team members who organised the Christmas party, said “Having a baby is hard enough, but having one on the Neonatal unit can be so stressful”.

“This is an opportunity for the mums and families to come together and meet new people who have also gone through a similar experience”.

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Nicky Heath, a Neonatal Outreach Sister, said “We run this group once a month all year through and the parents love it. Going home can be daunting for mums and families and coming to the group gives them support and they also have us to lean on if needed”.

“Today is extra special as for most families this is also their first Christmas together”.

Survival rates have improved for premature babies

Hosting support groups and Christmas parties allows families to engage with others who have been through similar experiences, which in turn raises awareness of how many families have welcomed a premature or unwell baby.

A 2008 study looking at survival rates for a neonatal intensive care unit in London found that neonatal survival rates at 22 and 23 weeks gestation had improved over time. In 1981-85, no babies who were born at these gestational ages survived to discharge. However, by 1986-90, 19% did and this increased to 54% in the period 1996-2000.

In the decade to 2019 alone, the survival rate for extremely premature babies born at 23 weeks doubled, prompting new guidance from the British Association of Perinatal Medicine (BAPM) that enables doctors to intervene to save premature babies from 22 weeks gestation. The previous clinical guidance, drafted in 2008, set the standard that babies who were born before 23 weeks gestation should not be resuscitated.

Spokesperson for Right To Life UK, Catherine Robinson, said “We wish a very happy Christmas to all those celebrating with their new babies this year, especially those who have been born prematurely or are still in intensive care”.

Editor’s Note: This article was originally published by Right to Life UK and is reprinted her with permission.

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