Late last year we asked for parents of babies born between 23 – 26 weeks gestation to help us with a short survey. This was part of a neonatal care working group of specialists and nurses, midwives and obstetricians who are currently looking at the information parents receive to provide support during this time, and help with making decisions about the care of their babies. This is so that future parents with a strong likelihood of having a very early baby can get the information they need, when they need it.
We’d like to say a HUGE thanks to those who completed the survey. We had a great response and the valuable feedback has been shared with the working group in order to:
* better understand the information given to parents of very early babies, and what was of most value
* identify improvement opportunities
* ensure consistency of approach and messaging across all New Zealand neonatal units
As appropriate we’re also working on adapting, and adding to, the Support resources we have available. For example, the comments provided allowed insights into the most useful information received by parents and what they wanted to know. For example, details on the complications that may experienced, what your baby may need assistance with (such as breathing), what test will be undertaken (eg head scans), and the role that they can play with nutrition/expressing, etc
We’re proud to support projects such as this survey. The continual focus on enhancing the clinical care and supporting practices for neonatal families is a key reason New Zealand is a leader in this field. Keep an eye on our website and social media for more opportunities to share feedback and contribute to the neonatal community.
—————————————————-
Supporting neonatal families
We receive great feedback on providing the ability for parents to share their experiences. Contributing through surveys gives graduate families a way to help current and future neonatal families. Another way to assist is the sharing of personal stories . . .
The personal stories section is the most read of our website. Parents on a current neonatal journey tell of the hope and encouragement the stories provide – through knowing that others have been there before, and their thoughts and emotions are normal.
Would you consider sharing your story?
If you would like to discuss sharing the story of your neonatal journey, we’d love to hear from you. Please email info@littlemiraclestrust.org.nz
Interested in how The Little Miracles Trust supports families going through the stress and anxiety of a neonatal journey?
Here’s a gallery of support examples.