Our first focus is supporting parents by helping them to overcome stress, isolation and hardship. Our frontline team work one-on-one with families in each of the country’s six neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) to reduce the impacts typically felt by those with premature or unwell babies by delivering peer support, and practical, financial or emotional help. In addition, our care packs and regular morning teas provide important opportunities to forge connections and conversations, while also delivering essential items and information.
Our support does not end at discharge: we run playgroups throughout Aotearoa that bring together parents and babies who have had similar experiences with our team and specialist developmental therapists to ensure that these whānau can continue to foster social connections, alongside early advice on raising a child that may be at increased risk of developmental delay or neurodiversity.
Our second focus is to assist the NICUs and special care baby units (SCBUs) in practical ways such as purchasing equipment vital to enhance whānau bonding during the time their baby is in intensive care. Items such as recliner chairs for skin-on-skin cuddles, privacy screens, breast pumps, bereavement room refurbishments and so much more. We also fund unit staff to attend neonatal educational seminars or other professional development to enhance and continuously improve the care experienced by baby and whānau.
Our third focus is to aid neonatal-related medical research. Aotearoa has carried out research trials that have led to global advances in the field of neonatal medicine. We want to ensure that continues so fewer babies have to be admitted to NICU and SCBU.
In short, we are committed to making a difficult start to life that little bit easier.
