Cuski Baby Comforter helping premature babies around the world

November 2nd, 2009

Premmie Baby Amelia using Cuski who stayed in NICU for 8 weeks

Cuski means ‘to sleep’ in Welsh and has become synonymous with bringing comfort to babies and children around the world as the original baby comforter. Cuski is a uniquely designed comforter that can be used from birth. Made form the softest natural cotton, Cuski’s simple design will ensure that he becomes your baby’s best friend, helping to stimulate and develop a baby’s imagination. To help your baby bond with a new Cuski you should sleep with it on the first night. Your comforting scent is then transformed to Cuski and as soon as you give it to baby he will naturally accept and adopt this comforting and very tactile friend. Cuski can help Mums too. In the case of premature birth women often find that their breast milk is not coming on when baby is in an incubator, but by placing Cuski with your baby for a while and then keeping it close to you, the scent of your baby could help to with breast milk. Many NICU’s & SCBU’s are buying Cuski’s for their premature babies, helping to create a natural bond with their mother even while in an incubator, in the absence of natural bonding created by holding, cuddling and feeding baby. Cuski is full machine washable and tested to all relevant UK and International safety standards.

If you would like to purchase a Cuski Baby Comforter please visit our Premmie Baby Store

Please also note that Cuski can be used by any newborn baby or child who simply needs a fashionable and functional gift.

Baby Wearing Slings for premature babies – 15 kg

November 1st, 2009
100Knots Baby Sling - Great for Kangaroo Care

100Knots Baby Sling - Great for Kangaroo Care

Moment by Moment has started stocking 100Knots® Ring Sling and invite you to take a look at our range. We have both the Bondi and Uluru colours available for purchase today.

The 100Knots® Ring Sling  is Australian made and owned product and is made of  top quality 100% Cotton fabric. The sling has over 10 Carrying Positions (photographic instructions included with sling)

Slings are recommended by many experts as the healthiest type of an infant carrier. This has been proven many times by paediatricians and by chiropractors. It is worth noticing that slings are not modern day’s invention. They have existed in different civilizations throughout human history, as they do today; it is just that science and materials we use today help in designing much more optimal types of carriers.
In a nut-shell, 100Knots® Ring Sling:

  • Encourages positive growth of babies
  • Reduces premature infant mortality
  • Soothes crying and colic at infants
  • Encourages early mental development
  • Reduces incidence of post-partum depression. 

    Using the 100Knots® Ring Sling brings out the best in your baby and yourself. It gives you continuous connection with your baby, unlimited freedom, and fabulous feeling of security knowing that your precious one is safe.

    100Knots® Rings Sling assists you through all stages of your baby’s growth, moving easily from front, to side, to back position.The sling is a great addition to any family as it is suitable for almost anyone to us.

    Australian Sizes-  Size 8-22

    European Sizes – Size 34-46

    American Sizes – Size 6-20

    The 100Knots Ring Sling also allows you to nurse / breastfeed your child as the sling also can be used as a privacy cover.

    100Knots Ring Sling recommended weight to carry children up to is 15kg

  • Using a 100Knots® Ring Sling to carry and care for your Premmie baby is a great idea. It makes a wonderful gift allowing everyone in the family to have a try as  the 100Knots® Ring Sling is ajustable so no need to purchase several babywearing aids. The 100Knots® Ring Sling can also be used when doing Kangaroo Care with a prem baby allowing both the parent and the preemie baby a comfortable and secure feeling while doing this amazing Kangaroo are.

    The 100Knots® Ring Sling is available for purchase at the Premature Baby Store today.  As a special offer we are providing our valued customers with the special prices of $145.00 saving you  $35.00  available until stock runs out!!

    100Knot Slings are Australian Made & Owned

    100Knot Slings are Australian Made & Owned

    Cheap Dr Browns Natural Flow Bottles and Accessories on Sale

    October 31st, 2009
    Dr Browns Natural Flow Bottles & Accessories

    Dr Browns Natural Flow Bottles & Accessories

    Moment by Moment is having a sale and your invited!  One of the many brands we have on sale at the moment is the wonderful Dr Browns Natural Flow Bottles and Accessories.

    The Dr Brown range was created by a physician, Dr. Brown’s Natural Flow® has a USA patented internal vent system that actually helps promote good health in babies. The product does this by eliminating the vacuum and air bubbles, it helps to reduce feeding problems like colic, spit-up, burping and wind. And the positive pressure created by our system is as close to breastfeeding as your baby can get.

    We have 1 left of the amazing Breast Pump by Dr. Brown which offers a manual pump that provides all of the healthy benefits of the electric pump. An advantage to being the only breast pump with the unique One-Way airflow is that Dr. Brown’s Natural Flow breast pump continuously draws air and any present germs away from the breast, thus greatly reducing the likelihood of breast infections.

    Dr Browns Expressed Breast Milk Storage Bags

    Dr Browns Expressed Breast Milk Storage Bags

    We also have a variety of accessories like Y-Cut Silicone Teats/Nipples for Dr Browns Bottles which are great for babies who need thickened feeds due to reflux, express breast milk (EBM) storage bags which are suitable for any mother expressing for their baby, lace washable breast pads  for any Mother who wants to be comfortable and cost effective wile expressing or breast feeding and the Dr Browns bottle brushes designed to work with the Dr Brown’s Natural Flow bottle range.  

    We have limited stock so be quick!  Visit any of the links above or visit www.momentbymoment.com.au

     

    Dr Browns Manual Breast Pump

    Dr Browns Manual Breast Pump

    Meet Nichola Bedos – Author, Mother & Parent Infant Counsellor

    October 31st, 2009
     Nichola Bedos - Author, Mother & Parent Infant Counsellor

    Nichola Bedos - Author, Mother & Parent Infant Counsellor

    Moment by Moment is proud to be stocking IVF & Ever After The Emotional Nees of Families.  Below are sme details on the Author Nichola Bedos along with some very interesting IVF Facts and Stats.

    IVF & Ever After – About the Author
    The author Nichola Bedos is a specialist Parent-Infant Counsellor, in private practice in Sydney, and has worked with 150 families over the last 8 years. She has two sons of her own. Her second son was found to have grave complications during pregnancy, was delivered 6 weeks early and had six operations in his first year. Her struggle to help him achieve normal development led her to study psychology and later gain a Master of Social Science in Counselling. She is an accomplished freelance writer with 10 years’ experience writing for health and parenting magazines in the UK, Singapore, Malaysia and Australia and is a Contributing Editor for Nature and Health Magazine. She is a regular speaker at parenting forums. 

    Interesting facts and figures

    •There are 80 million couples suffering infertility worldwide, and 1 in 6 Australian couples suffers infertility.

    •According to the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology, 3 million IVF babies have been born worldwide since the first IVF birth of Louise Brown in 1978.

    •200,000 babies were born in the world after IVF last year, the rate is increasing by 10% every year and in Australia 10,000 IVF babies will be born this year, 4% of all births in this country in 2007.

    •More than 50% of all IVF deliveries are by Caesarean.

    •41,000 IVF cycles currently begin in Australia annually.  The current overall success rate of IVF in Australia is approaching 25%, a doubling of the success rate over the last twenty years.  A twenty-four year old woman has four and a half times the chance of IVF cycle success compared to a 40 year old woman using her own eggs.

    •The first baby born after a frozen cycle arrived in 1984, there are now 6 million frozen embryos worldwide waiting for a decision as to their fate.

    •6% of IVF couples use a donor – either egg, sperm or embryo

    •IVF couples are 9 times more likely to have twins than non-IVF couples

    •Doctors believe PGD (Pre-implantation Genetic Testing) will double the current success rate of IVF over the next decade.

    •The advent of PGD, the older age of couples trying for a baby and the decreasing fertility rate is set to change the face of human reproduction with 3 out of every 10 babies conceived by IVF by the time our kids become parents.

    This book is available for purchase at the Premmie Baby Store on sale for just $24.95 (RRP $32.95)

    New @ Premmie Baby Store – IVF & EVER AFTER Book

    October 31st, 2009

    Moment by Moment has been busy finding new gifts! Please visit our store and see the fantastic products we stock for premature babies.

    We also have some gifts for growing premmie babies in newborn sizes and beyond so please take a look. We haven’t forgotten Mum,Dad or the brothers and sisters of premature babies either so stop by and purchase them a gift too.

    Contact us anytime on 0408689330 to order over the phone or to ask any questions you may have.

    One of our new products we have in store is a fantastic book about IVF and the ever emotional journey  you go through when experiencing IVF. Please take the time to read the details below and also take a look at the Authours bio in the following blog post. 

    IVF & Ever After Book

    IVF & Ever After Book

    IVF & EVER AFTER:
    The emotional needs of families 
    Nichola Bedos

    The psychological impact and emotional cost of the IVF process on couples cannot be underestimated.                         

     Director of social work and psychology, Tresillian, Sydney

    What are the main differences between IVF families and non-IVF families?
    Simply put, stress! Couples experiencing an inability to fall pregnant, medical testing and fertility treatments have been through a particularly negative time in their lives. They are often exhausted and anxious about their ability to have a child.  Women undergoing treatment for infertility have a similar level of stress as women dealing with life-threatening illnesses, such as cancer or heart disease and IVF clinicians are now emphasising to parents that stress plays a sizeable role in treatment success.

    A recent Melbourne University study by Dr. Karin Hammarberg, detailed in this book, has found that women who conceive through IVF are more likely to doubt their abilities as mothers and to experience difficulties with parenting. IVF mothers are three times more likely to attend early parenting centres for help.

    Author and Specialist Counsellor Nichola Bedos, has a Graduate Diploma in Infant Mental Health and eight years of experience working with families, seeing the day – to – day challenges that IVF brings. In her book IVF & Ever After, she explores the emotional aspects of infertility and looks at the process from choosing IVF treatment, through to parenting after IVF.  Parents can also learn about their child’s likely feelings regarding their conception when they come to have a child of their own.

    “IVF couples should be armed with good information about how to take care of themselves if they are to be successful in achieving a pregnancy,” says Nichola Bedos. She says it is important to consider the needs of IVF families and to remember that stress is fully treatable and this can prevent later problems with breastfeeding, post-natal depression and separation anxiety.

    IVF has produced more than three million babies worldwide and continues to offer a wonderful option for many of the one in six couples who experience infertility. This book includes the latest research and looks at issues such as what to do with frozen embryos, how to tell a child about IVF conception and the implications of legislation to make surrogacy easier. It outlines the needs of IVF families and offers strategies that help them through the process and to enjoy their parenting.

    To purchase IVF & Ever After visit the premmie baby store Moment by Moment

    RRP $32.95 on sale $24.95

     

    My Amazing Airlie Fae – Premmie Baby Girl born at 27 Weeks

    October 27th, 2009
    Airlie Fae 27 weeker 1lb 14 ozs next to Dad's hand.

    Airlie Fae 27 weeker 1lb 14 ozs next to Dad's hand.

    Fiona & Airlie Fae

    Nothing can quite prepare you for the day you are told you are going to have a premature baby. For me it was a desperate situation as I was suffering from pre eclampsia and HELLP Syndrome so both my daughter and my life were in danger. I was all but 27 weeks pregnant when it started and within days my precious baby girl was born. My health became increasingly worse but it was a game of how my welfare was managed opposed to my baby girl.

    On the night of the 5th January 2006 I thought my life was going to end. It started with a pain high under my ribs. My blood pressure began to elevate and I was given medication but nothing would stop it, the onset was very fast. Everything felt like it was rushing by as I zoned in and out through the pain, it’s hard to put into words. The midwives looking after me were caught off guard. It was your token scene out of a movie with medical staff pulling up the sides of my bed and rushing me to the birthing suite where I was consumed with the pain. Time lapsed between me zoning in and out, the pain was just so bad; I didn’t know what was going on around me. I was given endone, pethadine, morphine and magnesium to control the pain and control my blood pressure as it was reaching the limits where ladies often have seizures and strokes and what is referred to as eclampsia. I was stabilised over night and prepared to have my baby girl early the next morning.

    At 9:09am on the 6th Jan 2006 while I lay under a general anaesthetic, a c-section was performed by the amazing doctors and nurses at Royal North Shore Hospital, Sydney. My daughter was born weighing a tiny 861 grams. She measured 35.5cm in length and she had a head circumference of 25.3cm. In laymen’s terms she was the same size as a 600ml water bottle. Due to the risk involved my husband had to wait outside and was given news to visit the NICU after our baby girl was admitted. I was admitted to ICU where I continued to be hypertensive (rising blood pressure). I spent 2 days there with very little recollection of what happened. I do remember my husband bringing me a picture of a tiny baby wrapped in plastic and telling me how a wonderful Chinese lady was caring for our little girl. I spent 6 days in hospital after the birth and the remaining time in accommodation on the hospital grounds. Over the coming weeks our lives were changed forever.

    Airlie Fae photographed in the early das of NICU on CPAP next to her dolly that was bigger then her.

    Airlie Fae photographed in the early das of NICU on CPAP next to her dolly that was bigger then her.

    We began to live inside this parallel world which is the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Inside NICU’s miracles happen, battles are fought and sadly some are lost and we had no idea which we were going to do. When I was able to hold Airlie it was the most blissful yet antagonising moments of my life. You question why this has happened to you and want to take her place. You also share in some of the most amazing experiences learning how to become a part of the team that teaches you how to heal and grow your baby. Milestones are different but just as special and when your baby finally hits the 1kg mark or is strong enough to breath on their own it’s like a tiny white light begins to shine from the end of that dark dark tunnel and you begin to believe you may actually go home. Many times my chest was tight with worry and several times I panicked but Airlie was always independent and strong. Royal North Shore NICU Staff always taught us that we were our baby’s advocate. That we should always speak up for her because although they are the professionals we are her parents and we see any tiny change usually before others do.

     

    The life of a NICU family is one that is hard to describe. You live your life moment by moment never looking too far ahead and never having a chance to look back either. We met some amazing people during our time in NICU and many after we left too. Those other parents who experienced the NICU rollercoaster have shared more with us than some of those who have known us our whole lives. I received great support from my husband Adrian, our son Mason who was 5 at the time and my family. But sadly some don’t quite know how to handle a situation like this. Many people don’t send you cards or gifts and very few congratulate you. I always struggled with the lack of support shown by some. Other than my closest family members those who supported me the most were perfect strangers; those who had been through the experience and understood.

    While Airlie was in NICU she battled a number of premmie issues like suspect infections, breathing issues, immature lungs, gut and eyes, bilateral inguinal hernia, PDA which is a small but vital duct in a baby’s heart which should close at birth but in premmies sometimes doesn’t so she was medicated but thankfully closed enough not to warrant surgery. As the staff began to see what Airlie responded to they built her care around this and she began to excel.

    I expressed every 3 hours for 6 weeks until she was able to fully breastfeed at 2months old. A bottle of water was always beside me to help keep my milk supply up and was a constant reminder of just how far Airlie had come since her early arrival. When Airlie was given expressed breastmilk in a nasalgastric tube I would give her a dummy hoping that she would soon understand that sucking meant you got a fully tummy. At Airlie’s birth age of 27 weeks gestation (13 weeks early) she was not born with the sucking reflex and most babies do not have this until they are approximately 35 weeks gestation. When Airlie was 32 weeks gestation a nurse heard her sucking on her dummy while being fed so she suggested we start breastfeeding.

    At 33 weeks we were transferred to a level 2 local hospital which I found very distressing after being inside a level 3 NICU. The facilities are nowhere near the same which took some time to get use too. Between 32 weeks and 35 weeks Airlie began to breastfeed starting at 1 fed a day and building her way up until finally she was fully breastfed.

    Look how I have grown! Airlie Fae in SCBU.

    Look how I have grown! Airlie Fae in SCBU.

    At 35 weeks gestation or 8 weeks birth age she was discharged weighing 3lb 8ozs. At this time we really found it very hard to find clothing, books, nappies, dummies all those things that are readily available if you have a full term baby. We struggled through but I found it quite distressing when told it wasn’t worth some retailer’s time to stock such premmie baby products. I also started to see that there was very little support out there for premmie babies and their families and felt something should be done about it. Airlie went on to grow into one amazing little girl and in the first year of her life she stayed very small.

    Airlie Fae all dressed up to leave hospital 8 weeks after birth.

    Airlie Fae all dressed up to leave hospital 8 weeks after birth.

    At 8 months old 5 months corrected Airlie did become sick with RSV and spent time in hospital back on oxygen. She was also found to be anaemic so also had a blood transfusion and a large amount of iron over the few months following that.

    During the first year Airlie had appointments with health professionals like physios, paediatricians and eye doctors. We are also a part of a follow up program with Royal North Shore where they test and collect data on Airlie so they may learn how she develops and also so they can learn better ways in the future to look after premmie babies which we are very proud to do.

    Airlie Fae's 1st Birthday - Family Photo including Adrian, Fiona and Mason

    Airlie Fae's 1st Birthday - Family Photo including Adrian, Fiona and Mason

    At age 1 Airlie was a huge 6.7kg and still wearing 000 clothing (approx size 3month old full term baby) but clearly a giant not in stature but in spirit. We have kept in close contact with our NICU and have returned each year for the NICU Graduate Christmas party and have visited on other occasions to donate items and just say hello. Each year the nurses remember us and are delighted to see the amazing little girl Airlie that they helped grow. Since Airlie’s birth my perspective has changed on a lot of things. I shared some precious time with lots of families, some of whom now have lost their babies. I have promised myself to never be someone who fears saying something so chooses to say nothing at all in any situation.

    I was able to breastfeed Airlie untill she was 21 months of age. In the early days I spent many hours expressing breast milk (EBM). Every 3 to 4 hours you could find me hooked up to a machine which was ever so romantic but none the less was what needed to be done so I did it. I was extreamly lucky tha I could express as much breast milk. It was very important to me to express and then breast feed Airlie so I did everything possible to make sure that happened. When I could finally breastfeed my premmie baby girl Airlie it was one of the biggest joys of my life.

    Airlie started attending pre school at 2.5 years of age and enjoys interacting with other children. Airlie made great friendships with the children and also with her teachers and the staff including Justine, Kelly, Belinda, Kath, Meg, Karen Lyn and many more.

    Airlie Fae 2.5 years old ready for first day of preschool. Pictured with her brother Mason.

    Airlie Fae 2.5 years old ready for first day of preschool. Pictured with her brother Mason.

    I was so compelled to support other families of premmie babies that I set up www.momentbymoment.com.au. Launched in 2007 the site provides premmie clothing and gifts for premature babies while offering a supportive environment with personal stories, articles and more. My passion defiantly shines through and has helped me also become the Exclusive Distributor of Cuski Baby Comforter and the Cuski Kid’s Orthopaedic Pillow. I was told once that little acorns grow into big oak trees and that speaks to me on many different levels. I also founded the first support group for premmie babies and sick newborns on the Central Coast of NSW which meets on a monthly basis and provides support to families in the Central Coast area.

    I am also very active in Australia Action on Pre Eclampsia (AAPEC) www.aapec.org.au to raise the awareness of PRE ECLAMPSIA and HELLP Syndrome. These are the conditions that could have taken my life and my baby’s, and sadly we have come to understand has taken many of our fellow PE sufferers’ babies and severely impacted on mothers’ lives.

    If there is one thing I want people to understand is I don’t look at my experience as a traumatic horrible experience, I look at it as an unexpected arrival filled with beautiful and amazing people. I think this is due to the excellent care we were given. It is not ideal to be premmie but in our case nothing could be done to stop it and the health professionals that looked after us are amazing people that I will love forever. After experiencing all this I understand such things like our health service do need some improvements but firstly I think that we must be grateful for what we have and then to see that the glass is half full and not half empty.

    Now 3 years on from my experience I don’t think ‘what if she was full term’ because she will never be full term. I want my daughter to know that she is perfect the way she is and for me to know that I never did anything wrong and to not blame myself.

    Moment by Moment and Fiona Dixon has been honoured with becoming a Nominee, Finalist and Winner the Central Coast NEW BUSINESS of 2008 , Nominee in the PRIDE OF AUSTRALIA 2008 ROLE MODEL and Finalist in Small Business Champion Awards.

    Fiona has a keen interest to raise community awareness of premature birth and issues that surround premmie babies and their families. Due to Fiona’s own personal story with pre eclampsia she also wishes to draw attention to PE and HELLPS.

    If there is something you would like to raise awareness on please contact Fiona where you will find she is more then willing to help you in your cause.

    Airlie has grown into one amazing little girl. She is the love of my life and I wouldn’t change a second I have had with her. She was my precious premmie baby girl now she is my amazing big girl.

    Airlie Fae now a beautiful 3 years old girl.

    Airlie Fae now a beautiful 3 year old girl.

    The Premmie Baby Prayer

    October 25th, 2009
    Airlie-premmie-SCBU-Daddy

    Daddy and Airlie in Special Care Baby Unit

    The Premmie’s Prayer
    Dear God, as you look down upon us,
    We know that you might have to squint.
    We’re located here in the NICU:
    It’s the nursery that we rent.

    There are many alarms and sirens,
    Connected to condos and flats.
    The nurses tape our booties on,
    And dress us in funny hats.

    We have a lot in common;
    All of us were in a hurry.
    For many different reasons,
    Our storks came a little early.

    Some of us don’t know why,
    We bursted out from our bubbles.
    We entered into this world,
    Never meaning to cause any troubles.

    Mommy and Daddy are worried sick
    About the odds that we must beat.
    Please God, help them to realize,
    That seeing us grow is a treat.

    Breath by breath, we’ll learn to breathe.
    Ounce by ounce we’ll tip the scale.
    We’re like a boat in the ocean,
    That knows not sink- only sail.

    For we are living miracles,
    Mommy and Daddy must simply believe,
    That you have angels watching over us;
    From the time we arrive, till the time we leave.

    Author Unknown

     

    Premature Baby Recieves Free Flights For Life

    October 24th, 2009

    premmie-baby-free-flights-for-lifeWe all have a story you know the ones our parents tell us and everyone else to embarasses us later in life. Its all about how we came into this world. Well one little boy has a  interesting entry into the world and I can only imagine how many times this story will be told in his life time.  Funny enough the premature baby was even given a gift for his early arrival too. Read on to find out more…

     A  woman travelling  while 27 weeks pregnant on budget airline AirAsia gave birth while on route from Penang to Kuching on Wednesday. The flight had to be diverted to Kuala Lumpur for an emergency landing when the 31 year old woman gave to the baby boy. The premmie baby boy was born 2,000 feet (600 meters) in the air and was transferred to a nearby hospital. AirAsia has provide both the mother and her baby boy with free flights for life with the airline.

    Now thats what I call a great story to tell the kid when he gets older!