Miracle Babies

​This Guest Post has been provided by Corinne Henderson.
Corinne is the ACT Volunteer coordinator for Miracle Babies Foundation. This organisation provides support for families that have experienced the birth of a premature or sick baby.

---

Every year in Australia around 44,000 newborn babies require the help of a NICU or SCN. Around 25,000 of these babies are born premature and up to 1000 babies lose their fight for life.
For families, the experience of having a baby come into the world not as expected or planned is life changing. Without support, this overwhelming and traumatic experience can have lifelong effects on the emotional wellbeing of these miracle families. It affects the entire family unit.

Since 2005, Miracle Babies Foundation has been passionate in developing vital programs and resources to support and enhance a family’s experience from a threatened pregnancy, hospital journey with a premature or sick newborn, transition to home and beyond.

Australia is home to 22 state of the art intensive care units designed to meet the unique and critical needs of our earliest and sickest babies. Working with health professionals on the joint agenda of better outcomes for families, Miracle Babies provides informative education and insight on a family’s experience and funding for equipment, resources and research.

Supporting families

NurtureProgram®
A comprehensive parent to parent support program available from a threatened pregnancy, during the time spent in NICU, the transition to home and beyond. This support also includes the loss of a baby cared for by a NICU. This program is provided free to Australia’s miracle families and includes play and support groups after discharge.

Our successful program comprises:
• NurtureLine®: National 24 hour family helpline
• NurtureTime®: In-hospital parent-to-parent support.
• NurtureGroup®: Out of hospital play and support groups.

Online Information Centre
Australia’s premiere online resource for families offering access to current, relevant, Australian information.

Resources
With the goal to positively change the experience for families some of our resources include: emergency care packages, memory boxes, knitting and sewing and special gifts for each family in NICU on Mother’s Day, Father’s Day and Christmas.

Supporting hospitals & health professionals
Funding
As a national organisation we are committed to supporting the Australian neonatal community. Funding for equipment, research and studies, particularly for family focused projects that positively impact a family’s NICU journey are encouraged.

Education
Family centered care strives to respect the essential role of families in their care giving role and recognises their vital contribution as part of the health care team.

As a permanent integration within NICU specific training, conferences, in-services, hospital programs and design we are able to assist health professionals with a greater understanding of the needs and long term emotional effects’ having a baby born sick or early brings and positively influence their care practices of the family unit.

By promoting community awareness, we can help build knowledge and understanding of this prevalent national issue and the ongoing challenges faced by miracle babies and their families.

Research
Miracle Babies Foundation is Australia’s peak representative consumer body for neonatal research and studies.

Working together for positive outcomes for Australian miracle babies.

My Email: Corinne.henderson@miraclebabies.org.au
Website: http://www.miraclebabies.org.au/
National Facebook site: http://www.facebook.com/MiracleBabiesFoundation
Local Canberra Branch: https://www.facebook.com/CanberraNurtureGroup
​Local Canberra support group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1103791632967176/