DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

17 November – World Prematurity Day

WORLD PREMATURITY DAY NEONATAL SYMPOSIUM

We would like to warmly invite you to celebrate World Prematurity Day 2023 with us. This years annual National Neonatal Symposium will take place remotely and you can register to attend by clicking on this link:-

World Prematurity Day 2023 Symposium Registration

 


 

Annual WPD 

Celebration 

Campaign

Illuminate in Purple Light!

WORLD PREMATURITY DAY

PURPLE ILLUMINATION OF LANDMARKS

To celebrate the 4500 babies born too early in Ireland each year, 100’s of Irish landmarks illuminate in purple light on the night of November 17th.  Follow us on social media to see a list of participating landmarks. Don’t forget to send us photographs of your illumination and we will share them on our social media channels.

Two photos depiciting the purple illumination of landmark buildings in Dublin on World Prematurity Day

 

ONGOING CAMPAIGNS

TG4 documentary about INHA work and ongoing campaigns:

CAMPAIGN

KNIT FOR NICUS

Many of our neonates are too small for conventional baby clothing and as soon as the infants medical condition permits clothing, families often find it difficult to source suitable garments.
Can you knit or crochet and would you like to join our community of crafters to make hats, cardigans and quilts for premature babies?

You can donate your knitted or crocheted items directly to a Neonatal Unit of your choice.

PATTERN LINKS

http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/stoke/hi/people_and_places/

http://www.tinysparkswa.org.au/knitting-sewing/
http://wirf.com.au/patterns
http://www.knittingwomen.com/35-free-knitting-patterns-for-preemie-babies/
http://www.bonniebabies.co.uk/knitting.htm

Please forward your knitted, crocheted or sewn garments to the INHA , 26 Oak Glen View,  Southern Cross, Bray, Co Wicklow.

Image of 'Knits for NICUs' poster.


 

CAMPAIGN

ANGEL GOWNS

Many of the babies who pass away in our NICU’s are too tiny for conventional baby clothing and the neonatal units require Angel Gowns for these infants. The Angel Gowns are made from wedding dresses or communion dresses. You can have your wedding or communion dress converted and the Angel Gowns donated to a neonatal unit of your choice.

PATTERN LINKS

http://newbornsinneed.org/patterns/bereavement-patterns/
http://www.bevscountrycottage.com/bereavement-gowns.html
https://www.pinterest.com/griffinflowers/angel-gown-patterns/
http://starlegacyfoundation.org/patterns/

 

Image of 'Wedding Dresses to Angel Gowns' poster.


 

CAMPAIGN

INCUBATOR COVERS

The neurological system of premature babies is immature and under developed and is unable to process many of the stimuli of the busy Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) without interfering with the development of the neurological system.

Two photos showing incubator covers.

More and more hospitals around the world are acknowledging and addressing the damaging effects of loud noise and bright light. However, the NICU is a busy place providing intensive care around the clock, which makes it in practice impossible to completely ban excessive light and noise from the unit. Reduction of high-risk neonates’ exposure to aversive light and noise stimulation is an important component of developmentally supportive care. In the NICU, usually light and noise are reduced by reducing the room’s light level or by using incubator covers.
Incubator covers are a supportive measure to minimise the environmental effects of light and noise on premature infants developing brain. Use of Incubator covers has been shown to:

  • Reduce the incidence of sensory processing disorder in children thus reducing the need for occupational therapy intervention and reducing the overall cost burden to families and the health system.
  • Have positive effects on sleep quality of premature infants.
  • Reduce sound level readings within the incubator.
  • Reduce lighting levels.
  • There is evidence that when incubators are uncovered compared to being covered, incubator walls and air temperatures fall by 0.6-2.2 degrees C. The inability to maintain their body temperature is just one of the complications that preterm infants  encounter.

The incubator covers can be made of material or wool and should be thick enough to exclude light from the incubator (a backing can also be applied to your cover).

Incubator Cover Pattern Links

https://projectlinusuk.wordpress.com/patterns-and-tutorials/incubator-covers/
https://www.pinterest.com/search/pins/?q=isolette%20cover%20patterns

You can donate your incubator covers directly to a neonatal unit of your choice.