Celebrating World Prematurity Day

Today is World Prematurity Day. World Prematurity Day is a global movement to raise awareness of premature birth. 

As the dedicated charity for St Michael’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), we are proud to support the only unit in the South West providing the highest level of care to both premature and critically ill babies. That’s 800 babies a year – some of whom are born as early as 23 weeks. 

For this year’s celebrations, families were given a card and a gift courtesy of Cots for Tots. Staff wore purple and the unit was decorated accordingly.

Our very own Cots for Tots House also hosted a tea party in honour of the day. It was a chance for families starting their hospital journey to meet with past parents who have come out the other side.

The theme for this World Prematurity Day is #ByYourSide. We want to listen to families’ experiences and journeys understanding that they may be very different. When they arrive at the unit, they bring the rest of their lives with them, their worries, hopes, beliefs, and experiences they have had before. There isn’t one starting point, one journey, or one way to feel. We will be asking families to share their stories.

Debbie Hunt, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Sister

It’s incredible to see Cots for Tots House inspire an entire community, all bonded by their experiences at St Michael’s Hospital.

parent workshops

There was more special news too! As of next week, the NICU team will be launching new parent classes to help current families care for their babies, including preparation for going home. Getting ready for your baby to come home can feel exciting but overwhelming. We’re proud to support these important workshops that will be a vital service to many families of both premature and special care babies.

None of this would be possible without our fantastic fundraising family. Get involved if you want to help make a life-changing difference to little lives from Bristol and beyond. 