The media loves a “good news” story, as a result the bias within the journalism is to present stories absent of proper fact. In the case of premmies represented in the media, even with the best intentions of the parents, we’re often told that even micro prems suffer little ill effect or few long term issues as a result of prematurity. These statements give the general public a false picture of prematurity and furthers the “Oh they’re just a little early and a little small” mentality.

An article in Sydney Morning …

Welcome to Brisbane Premmies new “Three questions” series. These will be a series of short interviews conduction with three women who have experiences with certain aspects of prematurity.
When where you first diagnosed with PE?
Kyla Officially–probably the day I was admitted to hospital on the 14th May, 2007. At about 24 weeks I was concerned about lack of movement/kicks with bubs. I told my DH my concerns when I couldn’t handle the stress myself anymore (he was having terrible stress problems at work and was put on stress leave). He rang …

This entry originally appeared on my personal blog on June 13 2008. It is the fourth in a series of posts detailing our journey with eating problems and tube feeding.
Fresh from a six day hospital admission I’m starting to think that there is no such thing as a “good” doctor. They all seem to have their own agenda and often don’t take their patients or their patients parents into account when they make their decision. Getting answers this week has been like pulling teeth…from a creature that doesn’t have any.

Miss …

My experience with pre-eclampsia began six weeks before Erin was born. I’d gone to visit a cousin who’s recently given birth to her third son. It was our second night in Tamworth and we’d called into a steak house for dinner.
As a lifelong sufferer of migraines what happened next wasn’t uncommon for me. As I sat reading the menu my vision narrowed and I started to feel sick. It happened that quickly. Within the space of five minutes I’d gone from sitting down to a normal meal to having such …

This entry was originally posted on my personal blog on 4 June 2008 and is the third in a series of posts detailing our journey with eating problems and tube feeding
Well, we haven’t been admitted. Despite the fact that this was an arranged admission, that I’d completed Miss E’s admission form, that she’d been bagged and tagged and had the wardees at the door, there was no bed available for her. In fact, the doctor who denied us admission believed we shouldn’t be there at all, because in his words, …

This entry was originally posted on my personal blog in June 1 2008 and is the second in a series of posts detailing our journey with eating problems and tube feeding.
There’s no eloquent way to tell you all that last weeks jubilation over Erin’s lack of face furniture has been short lived. On Friday, before her appointment with the speech pathologist, I took her to be weighed by Diet Girl. It turns out, not only has she not gained enough, she’s actually lost 80g (almost 3 oz) in a week, …

This entry was originally posted on my personal blog on May 24 2008 and is the first in a series of articles written about our personal journey with eating problems and tube feeding.
I’d like you all to sing along with me “tube free, as free as the wind blows” okay so those are the only words I know also, we’re only tube free “for now”. By “for now” Diet Girl means, should she begin to loose weight or if her development is impacted we won’t have a choice. This is …

RSV is a very common virus that causes cold-like symptoms in healthy people. In people who are most at risk—prematurely born and low birth weight babies and those with congenital heart defects or chronic lung disease—it is a much more serious illness.
According to the World Health Organisation, RSV kills more than 160,000 people each year. It is attributed to up to 90% of hospitalizations due to bronchiolitis and 50% due to pneumonia. Because of their underdeveloped lungs premmies are at the highest risk of having hospitalisation and severe complications, including …

When Erin’s behavioural eating problems first began there’s one thing I wish I’d known. One very simple thing, but something that, in the heat of frustration, I’d completely overlooked. Eating should be fun.
To the human subconscious food is pleasurable. It, mostly, tastes good, it fills us up and makes us warm on the inside. Some people even say food is like a friend.
Now, what if that friend hurt you? What if that friend talked so loud or wore so much perfume that it overloaded your senses. Perhaps so much so …