Two Neonatal Journeys – Wrapped in Support
Our first was born at 34 weeks after maternal seizure with eclampsia. He was admitted to NICU in Dunedin hospital and stayed there for 2 weeks. Mum also had influenza so the team accommodated for that by nursing him in isolation at first so that she could still visit for those precious first few days. Dad was the main caregiver at first due to mums health and he was so well supported (first time dad!) by the whole team, even down to helping him with baths. Little Ezra was discharged home fully breastfed after 2 weeks.
Our second was born during Covid times at 32 weeks due to placental abruption. He was admitted to Wellington NICU and stayed there for 3 weeks, the first 10 days on his own. Mum tested positive for Covid (no symptoms) on emergency admission to hospital for delivery and then was discharged home but not allowed back until isolation period was up. That was really tough! The nursing team and social worker were so amazing though. Milk was delivered by sister-in-law (in a Little Miracles Trust cooler bag!) every day and that in itself was a miracle as no one other than parents were meant to be allowed but they made a special allowance for her due to our circumstance.
Once mum was allowed in it was daily trips back and forth, working on feeding, weaning off oxygen and just growing slowly but surely. Mum had more than one meal out of the freezer stash kindly donated – these are the little miracles we remember and are grateful for. Zeek came home breastfeeding with a little help from an NG tube and was supported by the community team until he was ok without that and finally discharged.
So many babies and families go through tough stories and it’s amazing to be in a country with medical care like ours and, equally importantly, community care like what’s provided through the Little Miracles trust. It makes all the difference. A cup of tea for a tired mum, a bag of goodies or a little hat or blanket. Now they’re memories for us but also reminders that we weren’t alone!
Thanks so much for sharing your personal story!
We get a lot of positive feedback from families in a neonatal unit who read these stories and feel strength, hope and positivity knowing that they are not alone going through these experiences and feeling certain emotions.
If you would like to discuss sharing the story of your neonatal journey, we’d love to hear from you.
Support Us
If you want to help our support of families going through the stress and anxiety of a neonatal journey, you can donate via the link below.
- The Little Miracles Trust provides support to families of premature or sick full-term babies as they make their journey through Neonatal Intensive Care, the transition home, and onwards. We do not receive any Government funding and are entirely reliant on the generosity of individuals, companies and organisations in the form of donations, value-in-kind donations, grants, sponsorship and fundraising events to supplement operating costs and fund our services and initiatives.
- As we are a registered charity (CC56619) with Charities Services New Zealand we will send you an IRD compliant tax receipt – this will happen automatically by return email.