Just thought I would share with you our Cafe Prem Logo. I love it. If you would like to link to our site and would like a banner,button or logo please contact me and I will email them directly to you. fionaatmomentbymoment.com.au

Moment by Moment is the leader when it comes to providing premmie babies and their parents with the much needed support, information and simply products like premmie clothing, premmie dummy, premature baby nappy packs and more.What is Moment by Moment up to now? You can bet they are always searching for new ways to support families of premmie babies, stocking only the best premmie clothes, teaching you about the great features of dressing a premmie baby and using such products like the cuski baby comforter. Check out what we have instore for you now! Take care and butterfly kisses to all those tiny premmie babies in hospital and at home too xxxx

8:57 PM - Tuesday 24 March 2009 - comments {0} - post comment

830 litres of milk donated to Prem Milk Bank in 3 years

Its amazing to think that not ever NICU has a Milk Bank like the Perron Rotary Express Milk Bank located in the King Edward Memorial Hospital WA Australia. After alot of hard work the WA Milk Bank has seen 830 litres of milk donated since it opening in August 2006. It was reported in the story written by THE WEST that over 470 premmie babies have been fed since its set up.

Dr Hartmann said there was good evidence that the immune systems of premature babies benefited from mothers’ milk. Very premature babies given artificial feeds were more at risk of necrotising enterocolitis, which could lead to bowel infections.

“Often mothers of very premature babies are stressed about having their little baby in intensive care and that can affect their own milk supply and breast pumps don’t work for all women,” he said. “So we try to support them with donor milk for a few weeks until their own milk comes in."

Dr Heartmann also commented on how rewarding it was to see mothers wanting to donate when they had an oversupply.

Dr Heartmann also told of how those screened donors who wish to donate are given a hospital grade experssing machine and then the milk is delivered to the KEMH.

The reporter spoke to a mother of twin daughters born 15 weeks premature who was unable to feed her premmie daughters.The twin prems weighed 700g and  630g so their parents are extreamly greatful for the Milk Bank and to those who donate their supplies of breastmilk to help sick and premature babies.

This story reminded me about how much milk I had when Airlie was born. I always wanted to donate my breastmilk but was unable to as there was not a Milk Bank set up near me. When we were transferred I took all my milk with me but on arrival it had started to melt so it had to be thrown away as it was no longer safe for Airlie to drink.

As far as I am aware there are 2 other areas offering a Milk Banks in Australia too.

QLD Mothers Milk Bank  which has been struggling due to lack of gov funding from QLD State Gov and at one stage there was a small milk bank trial being run with in RPA which had funding from Humpty Dumpty Foundation. (unsure if this is still going??)

I am a big supporter of Milk Banks. I look at them the same way I look at the dontion of blood or recieving blood. All Milk like blood is screened first and milk from mothers donating is usually kept to a min of babies as a control factor incase there were to have be an issue. The milk donated and given to prem babies is donated by other Mum's of premmie babies. Our body has the amazing way of changing the make up of our breast milk when our babies are born premmie so there for those who donate it must also have a premmie baby too.

This is Airlie Fae holding my hand in NICU

Moment by Moment is the leader when it comes to providing premmie babies and their parents with the much needed support, information and simply products like premmie clothing, premmie dummy, premature baby nappy packs and more.What is Moment by Moment up to now? You can bet they are always searching for new ways to support families of premmie babies, stocking only the best premmie clothes, teaching you about the great features of dressing a premmie baby and using such products like the cuski baby comforter. Check out what we have instore for you now! Take care and butterfly kisses to all those tiny premmie babies in hospital and at home too xxxx

2:35 PM - Friday 20 March 2009 - comments {0} - post comment

Reba Mc Entire - I’m a survivor

I wanted to share these song words with you.

I was born three months too early
The doctor gave me thirty days
But I must’ve had my mama’s will
And God’s amazing grace

I guess I’ll keep on livin’
Even if this love’s to die for
‘Cause your bags are packed and I ain’t cryin’
You’re walkin’ out and I’m not trying
To change your mind ’cause I was born to be

Chorus:
The baby girl without a chance
A victim of circumstance
The one who oughta give up, but she’s just
Too hard headed
A single mom who works two jobs
Who loves her kids and never stops
With gentle hands and the heart of a fighter
I’m a survivor

I don’t believe in self-pity
It only brings you down
May be the queen of broken hearts
But I don’t hide behind the crown
When the deck is stacked against me
I just play a different game
My roots are planted in the past
And though my life is changin’ fast
Who I am is who I wanna be

Repeat Chorus

A single mom who works two jobs
Who loves her kids and never stops
With gentle hands and the heart of a fighter
I’m a survivor

But I must’ve had my mama’s will
And God’s amazing grace

Do you have songs you have used to give you strength? Do they make you remember your time in NICU? I have 4 special songs which are on Airlie's video found on Moment by Moment under My Premmie Story. I have many others like you are my sunshine i sung this to Airlie and still do so now.. she actually sings it with me.

Fiona

BIO:  Moment by Moment is the leader when it comes to providing premmie babies and their parents with the much needed support, information and simply products like premmie clothing, premmie dummy, premature baby nappy packs and more.What is Moment by Moment up to now? You can bet they are always searching for new ways to support families of premmie babies, stocking only the best premmie clothes, teaching you about the great features of dressing a premmie baby and using such products like the cuski baby comforter. Check out what we have instore for you now! Take care and butterfly kisses to all those tiny premmie babies in hospital and at home too xxxx

2:02 PM - Sunday 1 March 2009 - comments {0} - post comment

Tim McGraw and Faith Hill's Premmie Baby

I was listening to the music playing on my blog here today and I googled the song words to Reba McEntire's song I am a Survivour and came across some interesting information about Faith Hill.

Did you know that Faith Hill had a daughter born premature? I didn't. I have always been a fan of her music but I suppose until I had Airlie never really took a whole lot of notice about her actual personal life an until reading now online that her daughter was born premmie I would have never know. Faith Hill and Tim McGraw both American country music singers have three daughters Gracie, Maggie and, most recently. Audrey Caroline, Faith Hill and Tim McGraw's daughter  third daughter Audrey arrived—eight weeks early, weighing 3 lbs. 11 oz and 17inches long in December 2001. Audrey was born premmie because the amniotic fluid was dangerously low. 

Tim says "The toughest thing was seeing her in her little Isolette," he says. "Not being able to feed her and seeing her lose a little weight."  Audrey came home Christmas eve and the parents were told she would not suffer any long term effects of being born premature. If nothing else, the past year has taught them that. "Through this whole ordeal we leaned on each other," says McGraw of the drama surrounding Audrey's birth. "When you need a friend, she's somebody you want. She's a strong person." And one not given to giving up easily. "Faith has a very real sense of what she wants out of life," he says. "She wants it all."

Moment by Moment is the leader when it comes to providing premmie babies and their parents with the much needed support, information and simply products like premmie clothing, premmie dummy, premature baby nappy packs and more.What is Moment by Moment up to now? You can bet they are always searching for new ways to support families of premmie babies, stocking only the best premmie clothes, teaching you about the great features of dressing a premmie baby and using such products like the cuski baby comforter. Check out what we have instore for you now! Take care and butterfly kisses to all those tiny premmie babies in hospital and at home too xxxx

1:28 PM - Sunday 1 March 2009 - comments {0} - post comment

Knitted Premmie Hats

Just wanted to make you aware that we have some great premmie hats for sale at Moment by Moment at the moment. We will be adding more as time goes on and they are a great gift for premmie babies needing to keep extra warm. They wont break the bank and will allow the little premmie to have something special to look at when they get older.CLICK to buy today!

Thanks

Fiona

BIO: Moment by Moment is the leader when it comes to providing premmie babies and their parents with the much needed support, information and simply products like premmie clothing, premmie dummy, premature baby nappy packs and more.What is Moment by Moment up to now? You can bet they are always searching for new ways to support families of premmie babies, stocking only the best premmie clothes, teaching you about the great features of dressing a premmie baby and using such products like the cuski baby comforter. Check out what we have instore for you now! Take care and butterfly kisses to all those tiny premmie babies in hospital and at home too xxxx

12:49 PM - Sunday 1 March 2009 - comments {2} - post comment

Pre Eclampsia and Premmie Babies ( also known as preeclampsia, PE, toxemia PET)

I am interested to hear about you experiences of having pre eclampsia and a premmie baby. My daughter was born because of preeclampsia and hellp syndrome at 27weeks. How many weeks was your baby born at? what gestation were you when you found out you had PE and how long until you had your baby? Even if your baby was born full term I would like to hear from you.

Thanks

Fiona

BIO:Moment by Moment is the leader when it comes to providing premmie babies and their parents with the much needed support, information and simply products like premmie clothing, premmie dummy, premature baby nappy packs and more.What is Moment by Moment up to now? You can bet they are always searching for new ways to support families of premmie babies, stocking only the best premmie clothes, teaching you about the great features of dressing a premmie baby and using such products like the cuski baby comforter. Check out what we have instore for you now! Take care and butterfly kisses to all those tiny premmie babies in hospital and at home too xxxx

12:44 PM - Sunday 1 March 2009 - comments {1} - post comment

Pregnancy after a premmie?

I would like to hear stories about others who have had another baby after their premmie. What was the reason for the premmie to be born and did you go on to have anothre premature baby or did you have a full term baby?

Thanks

Fiona

BIO: Moment by Moment is the leader when it comes to providing premmie babies and their parents with the much needed support, information and simply products like premmie clothing, premmie dummy, premature baby nappy packs and more.What is Moment by Moment up to now? You can bet they are always searching for new ways to support families of premmie babies, stocking only the best premmie clothes, teaching you about the great features of dressing a premmie baby and using such products like the cuski baby comforter. Check out what we have instore for you now! Take care and butterfly kisses to all those tiny premmie babies in hospital and at home too xxxx

12:42 PM - Sunday 1 March 2009 - comments {1} - post comment

Premmie Baby Photography - Figments Photography Perth WA Australia

I just wanted to share with little information about a wonderful photographer in Perth Australia. Janine from Figments Photography http://www.figmentsphotography.com.au/blog/  has some beautiful work on her photography blog. One of her pictures is of a premature boy who prompted her to check out more about premmie babies. Janine came across Moment by Moment and contacted me wanting to share more with her website visitors about premmie babies and Moment by Moment. Below is the link she has dedicated to premmie babies and Moment by Moment. Take a second to read the blog and please have a look at the rest of her work. It really is stunning.

http://www.figmentsphotography.com.au/blog/?p=1470

Thank you Janine

BIO: Moment by Moment is the leader when it comes to providing premmie babies and their parents with the much needed support, information and simply products like premmie clothing, premmie dummy, premature baby nappy packs and more.What is Moment by Moment up to now? You can bet they are always searching for new ways to support families of premmie babies, stocking only the best premmie clothes, teaching you about the great features of dressing a premmie baby and using such products like the cuski baby comforter. Check out what we have instore for you now! Take care and butterfly kisses to all those tiny premmie babies in hospital and at home too xxxx

11:53 AM - Sunday 1 March 2009 - comments {0} - post comment

Premmie Baby Forum - Provides Support, Friendship & more for families of a Premmie Baby

PRESS RELEASE - Moment by Moment newest addition to helping premmie babies.

The Premmie Baby Forum is Moment by Moment's Premmie Baby E-Boutiques  newest addition to helping those who have premmie babies around Australia and the world. Moment by Moment's Director Fiona Dixon says that helping families is the bases of Moment by Moment. "Yes we sell premature baby clothing and gifts for premmie babies but we also feel that providing support to families of premmies is a big part of the puzzle to reducing stress and the feeling of no one understands what we are going through"

The premmie baby forum allows families and friends to communicate their feelings and to form friendships with others who have had a similiar experience in a neonatal intensive care unit.  Fiona believes this is a vital part of her business. "Just being able to express your thoughts to others who truely understand what its like to have a premmie in a nicu and the stresses it creates within you can be most helpful during the time the baby is in the NICU and after when they are home" says Fiona.   Fiona Dixon does truely understands these stresses because her own daughter Airlie Fae was born at 27weeks gestation and she had the same stresses that the visitors to her website have.  Fiona believes Its comforting for families to know that even through they are going through the most unexpected scary time in their lives that they are not alone.

If you would like to join the premmie baby forum visit the link below and pass it on to others who have experienced the life changing time of having a premmie baby http://premmiebabyforum.momentbymoment.com.au

BIO: Moment by Moment is the leader when it comes to providing premmie babies and their parents with the much needed support, information and simply products like premmie clothing, premmie dummy, premature baby nappy packs and more.What is Moment by Moment up to now? You can bet they are always searching for new ways to support families of premmie babies, stocking only the best premmie clothes, teaching you about the great features of dressing a premmie baby and using such products like the cuski baby comforter. Check out what we have instore for you now! Take care and butterfly kisses to all those tiny premmie babies in hospital and at home too xxxx

11:33 AM - Sunday 1 March 2009 - comments {0} - post comment

What is Cafe Prem?

Cafe Prem is a community of blogs dedicated to premmie babies, sick newborns, health workers  and angel babies. I set up this blogging community of presonal stories because I felt it was a great way for families to keep incontact during the time of babies in neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) or special care baby unit (SCBU) Its a great way for people to stay informed while Mum and Dad are with baby. it provides on central place for everyone to visit to get updates, see pictures of the premmie baby and to understand what truely happens inside the walls of a neonatal intensive care unit from a families point of view. Cafe prem allows not just parents to sign up but also friends and family to share their  thoughts too. Its a great thing to start for families to allow communication as you can leave messages of hope and love. Sometimes its very demanding having a baby in a NICU this community allows you to keep up to date. Cafe Prem not only allows people to stay connected though out the premmie journey but it also keeps you in contact long after gong home too. All the milestones that babies achieve are special but our amazing premmie babies have to fight even harder which makes them very very sweet to share.

You may not know about Cafe Prem while your baby is in hospital so feel free to startup this bog after the baby comes home. You can share the story of how the baby arrived into the worold and as they grow you can share how they grown and develop. This also puts you incontact with many other people starting their blogs after the baby comes home and you find you can strike up friendships with others who are or have been through something similar to you

Our bloggers are made up of families from Australia, USA , the UK and afar. They have stories of NICU and beyond. They are allowing us to share in their baby's personal story from being premmie or sick and for that I wish to thank them.

If you would like to join cafe prem please visit the link below where you can sign up. If you have a friend or family member who you think may find value this link please pass it on to them. http://www.momentbymoment.com.au/cafeprem/login.php  visit the login page and click on the create one link to start sharing your premature baby journey with us today!

take care

Fiona Dixon , Director Moment by Moment, Cafe Prem & Premmie Baby Forum.

BIO : Moment by Moment is the leader when it comes to providing premmie babies and their parents with the much needed support, information and simply products like premmie clothing, premmie dummy, premature baby nappy packs and more.What is Moment by Moment up to now? You can bet they are always searching for new ways to support families of premmie babies, stocking only the best premmie clothes, teaching you about the great features of dressing a premmie baby and using such products like the cuski baby comforter. Check out what we have instore for you now! Take care and butterfly kisses to all those tiny premmie babies in hospital and at home too xxxx

11:14 AM - Sunday 1 March 2009 - comments {0} - post comment

Visit our newest premmie baby blogs at Cafe Prem - personal stories about premmie babies and their journey.

I just wanted to let you know about our newest members on Cafe Prem.

Brock - Brock William is a little premature baby boy who was born at  30weeks + 1 day gestation after his Mummy was sent to Royal Hobart Maternity Unit and Brock was looked after at the NIPCU at Royal Hobart Hospital Tasmania Australia. http://www.momentbymoment.com.au/cafeprem/brockwilliam/  His Mummy has added some premmie pictures of Brock in NICU and we hope to hear more about his premmie NICU journey soon. Post a comment and let them know your thinking of them.

Miss Victoria is a 27weeker born due to pre eclampsia. I have personally met Victoria's Mummy and also met Victoria after I was invited down to RNS hospital by her Mummy. Visit her premmie baby journey at the link below and leave them messages. Victoria is still in hospital and I am sure when her Mum gets the chance she will update the blog along with some beautiful photos ( you might even see me in one of my visits) http://www.momentbymoment.com.au/cafeprem/victoriadaniel/

Tayah was born ta 29weeks gestation and is now a very happy active girl who is keeing her Mummy very active. I have also met Tayah and she is a beautiful girl who is full of life. Follow her blog as she grows and develops into an amazing girl. Thanks for sharing Kylie xx http://www.momentbymoment.com.au/cafeprem/Tayah/

Thank you to all of you who share your premmie baby journey at cafe prem. We are very excited to share in these stories and watch as they teach us all the beautiful lessons in life.

Much love to you all

Fiona Dixon , Director of Moment by Moment, Cafe Prem & the Premmie Baby Forum.

BIO : Moment by Moment is the leader when it comes to providing premmie babies and their parents with the much needed support, information and simply products like premmie clothing, premmie dummy, premature baby nappy packs and more.What is Moment by Moment up to now? You can bet they are always searching for new ways to support families of premmie babies, stocking only the best premmie clothes, teaching you about the great features of dressing a premmie baby and using such products like the cuski baby comforter. Check out what we have instore for you now! Take care and butterfly kisses to all those tiny premmie babies in hospital and at home too xxxx

11:01 AM - Sunday 1 March 2009 - comments {0} - post comment

Australia Ido Luke Dickens and partner have Premmie Baby Boy

 Austrailan Idol Luke Dickens  and partner Brooke became parents to Jordan Kade Dickens 3pounds13 ozs was born over 2months early. Luke had to rush from the Sydney Studio after a live show to arrive just after Jordan had been born in Canberra Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Jordan was not expected to arrive till the 23rd of December but made his arrival to see his Dad hopefully win Australian Idol.

I have been a fan of Luke Dickens since the show started and I heard him sing a Joe Cocker song. Then just a few weeks later my husband broght the paper to me on a Sunday showing me that Luke and his partner Brooke had just had a premmie baby boy. My full support is behind Luke, Brooke and Jordan and my family and I wish the all the best and hope Jordan is progressing through the NICU and will be home with them when he is a little bigger.  I was thinking about the birth weight as I write this and it remined me that I actutally took Airlie home a tad smaller then what Jordan was born at. Airlie was born1lb 14ozs or 861grams and came home at 3lb 8ozs or around 1600 grams or 1.6kg.

We have sent a little gift including a Cuski Baby Comforter, Knitted hats and bottie sets, My Tiny Hands Please Wash Signs,  of to the family and Gumdrop Premature baby Dummy and a couple of other little items.We know how hard it can be to get out of the hospital and find items for your premmie babies espically when you have been transferred into a nicu and have no idea where you really are and where you would even begin to find some clothing or gifts that are suitable for premature babies so  we hope they recieve the presents from the Dixon family and Moment by Moment and they come in handy for them.

Don't forget tonight is the last time you get to vote for Luke so make sure you vote for him!!

Check out the video below I love this song, I love his voice and I hope Luke Dickens wins Australian Idol xx

Moment by Moment is the leader when it comes to providing premmie babies and their parents with the much needed support, information and simply products like premmie clothing, premmie dummy, premature baby nappy packs and more.What is Moment by Moment up to now? You can bet they are always searching for new ways to support families of premmie babies, stocking only the best premmie clothes, teaching you about the great features of dressing a premmie baby and using such products like the cuski baby comforter. Check out what we have instore for you now! Take care and butterfly kisses to all those tiny premmie babies in hospital and at home too xxxx

11:17 AM - Monday 17 November 2008 - comments {0} - post comment

What has Moment by Moment doing? LOTSSSSssssss

Wow so much has happened in the past few months that I have not written in my blog SORRY. It just seems to keep coming with no end in sight!!

CENTRAL COAST  BUSINESS AWARDS - I won the local business awards for the NEW BUSINESS 2008 CENTRAL COAST NSW.  I will upload some pictures of my award and some pictures from the night soon.

COFEE WITH KOCHIE AND JULIA - I was lucky enough to win a coffee meeting with Kochie (ch 7 Sunrise & Business Builders Show and Julia Bickerstaff Dilotte Partner and very smart and lovely business woman. They both gave up their time and allowed me to meet with them at a cozy little North Sydney Cafe. We discussed Airlie's premature birth and why I choose to set up such a business which showed how passionate I am about helping those who have premature babies. We looked at how I can increase awareness amoung the general public as well as families in NICU or SCBU about Moment by Moment and its premmie products and services. They both gave me some great ideas about staying focused and how this can help my business both short term and long term. I put processes in place when I returned home and I hope they are already starting to make a difference to both parents of premmie babies and to moment by moment's general running.   I did not think to take a picture and Mason my 8 year old was very dissapointed as he was very excited I was getting to meet Kochie!!!  I am keeping intouch with Julia and will be reporting back to both Julia and Kochie sometime down the track to keep your eye out for what I report back with.

NEWCASTLE SMALL BUSINESS & INNOVATION EXPO -  I was invited to the expo by Julian Campbell and was asked to sit upon one of the business innovation panels, this consisted of myself and 2 other men. The Panle was given the title When it comes to innovation - Does size matter? We often hear of the benefits of innovation - to a business, a region, an industry, the Nation.  But is small business a little fearful of innovation?  Or does small buisness believe that innovation is really about big business?  Or - is there just no time within a small buisness to stop, look at what we are doing, and find new ways?
In this interactive panel discussion, Julian Campbell delved into the pros and cons of innovation for a small business operator.Julian asked us a number of questions and we each were given time to answer.  It was a very interesting panel. I had never done anything like this before so I was a little unsure on how it would all go but true to myself I spoke from my heart about Airlie and Moment by Moment and it all turne out ok!

2NUR FM RADIO - I was interviewed by Julian on his radio show he  presents called  Business, The Law and You which airs Thursdays, 1pm. I encourage everyone to listen in to his show and many of the radio's other shows as they do have  great aray of guests with a range of topics everyone could listen too. I hope to upload this audio file soon so please stay tuned. Please sign up to our newsletter and you will get an alert when it appears on the blog. Visit MOMENT BY MOMENT to sign up today - scroll to the bottom of the page and sign up to both cafe prem news and tiny talk.

CAFE PREM - We have more and more parents of preemie babies signing up and sharing their early baby stories from around the world. Prem babies as young as 24weeks and sick newborns are sharing what their journey was / is like for them. For those of you who don't know I am very passionate about families being able to express their true thoughts and feelings about their premature baby experience in Neonatal Intensive Care Units and Special Care Baby Units across both Australia and the world. I desiged Cafe Prem to offer a FREE area for families and friends to share their premmie bubs journey. This site allows you to blog or journal about what happened or what is happening now with your premmie baby. If you are experiencing a High Risk Pregnancy you are also welcome to set up a blog and share the experience with us. You can share as much or as little as you like. You can tell your family and friends about your blog or you can just keep it for yourself as a daily, weekly or how ever often you need to download all thos overwhealming feelings. Cafe Prem also allows you to add pictures in a photo album just for your premature baby and you can also add them into each post. There is a picture icon next to the little yellow smiley face in the blog key at the top of the page and that allows you to insert pictures. You can also post videos on your premmie baby story blog at cafe prem. All you have to do is upload to youtube and then copy the video link they generate for you. Once you have this you log into your premmie blog and you make a new entry and click on source button which is next to the text drop down menu. Click on this then paste in the code from you tube or any other video sharing site. Then you click again on the source button and then appears your video to share with family and friends locally and around the world. You can then write text about your baby and what is happening in your life.

NEW STOCK ARRIVES SOON @ Moment by Moment - Keep your eye out becuase we have some really beautiful and functional products coming your way very very soon. We take our job very serious and we don't just order in any stock that says PREMMIE on the tag. Fiona hand chooses all products because she believes that quality is better then quanity espically when it comes to correct sizing of premature baby clothing. There are just too many brands out there not putting in the time and correctly sizing the preemie outfits which is only adding more distress to mum's and Dad's of premmie babies when the beautiful outfits wont fit their babies. It has always been a vision of Fiona's to fill her online premmiebaby clothing and gift store with a large selection of items but over the time she has come to realise that its just not worth dissapointing families and friends of these precious premmie babies. Moment by Moment is a big believer and supporter of products that promote bonding. Fiona experienced first hand what it felt like to dress her baby and give her gifts and Fiona feels that this is a excellent way of promoting bonding between families. We have also discovered that those who purcahase the gifts also feel a sense of accomplishment knowing that these gifts are going to used and greatly appreciated during their unexpected early arrival. Such people included aunty and uncle to a premmie baby or nanna / grandma / grandpa pop who was just become a grandparent  to a premature baby or even close family friends of the parents of preemie babies. We suggest you check out our store and see what we have on offer. If you can't see what you need please email or phone us as we maybe days away from adding new stock and we don't want anyone to miss out on our fantastic premmie products.

CUSKI BABY AND KIDS COMFORTER - Well lots has been happening at Cuski these days. They have just launched 2 new family members. Firstly Blue-ee who is a beautiful darkish baby blue colour. He is the sweetest gift for a newborn baby. The other new family member is Cuskiboo who is an organic bamboo and fair-trade made baby comforter that is being made in Turkey. The product is so soft I can't believe its that soft! We had great success with the first shipment and only have limited stocks of both pinkee, blue-ee and cuskiboo. Check out Moment by Moment Cuski Baby and Kid's Comforter Page to purchase yours today. Moment by Moment is also the distributor of Cuski in Australia. If your a retailer or know of a baby store who you think should be stocking Cuski please contact us on wholesale@momentbymoment.com.au and we will help you  with your enquiry.

WHO'S WHO OF AUSTRALIAN WOMEN -  Fiona has been nominated for Who’s Who of Australian Women. Fiona wishes to thank whom ever it was who nominated her, she is very touched that others appreciate her work so much. We will keep you updated on what happens with the Who's Who of Australian Women.

AIRLIE UPDATE - Miss Airlie Fae has just grown so much! She is turning 3 in Jan 09 and we can't believe how she is just a little girl now and no longer a baby (don't you worry we can't forget cause she tells us so!) She is attending pre-school 2 days a week and loves it so much. Her teachers Kelly and Justine are her 2 favorite people in the place and they are just wonderful girls. It made the step of going to preschool alot easier for both Airlie and Fiona when Airlie befriended these teachers.

NEWCASTLE PREMATURE BABY RESEARCH - our central coast neighbours are doing some great things with a Melbourne uni and pathology company in learning who is more likely to be at risk of premature birth. The compture software is similare to that used by American's to detect large weather cycles. Fiona was contacted by a Sydney Newspaper for comment and they visited to take their picture. (we will have to purchase and upload that one) Fiona was also contacted by the local radio station for comment and we have that short audio interview so again we will have to upload that at a later date too.

PARENTING AUSTRALIA EXPO SYDNEY AUSTRALIA - Fiona again visited the expo with Cuski and premmie baby clothig and gifts to raise awareness of the issues surrounding premature birth. We had a great response from both visitors and retailers. We hope to work with some of our fellow retailer friends in the future and wish our visitors all the luck with their babies and impending births. Yes you gessed it pictures will be uploaded at a later date for you to peek at.

Wow we are tired after writing that blog post!  we hope that fills you in on just a little of what we have been doing. We have much more to write but we thought we would end this one now.

We are just about to move so wish me luck!!

Best wishes to all the parents and premmie babies out there.

love the Moment by Moment team xoxo

Moment by Moment Bio

Moment by Moment is the leader when it comes to providing premmie babies and their parents with the much needed support, information and simply products like premmie clothing, premmie dummy, premature baby nappy packs and more.What is Moment by Moment up to now? You can bet they are always searching for new ways to support families of premmie babies, stocking only the best premmie clothes, teaching you about the great features of dressing a premmie baby and using such products like the cuski baby comforter. Check out what we have instore for you now! Take care and butterfly kisses to all those tiny premmie babies in hospital and at home too xxxx

6:04 AM - Monday 27 October 2008 - comments {4} - post comment

Nominate Moment by Moment in the Netguide Web Awards

 Netguide Web Awards 2008 are on and they are looking for sites to enter their awards.  We are always looking for new ways to inform the greater public about premature birth, premmie babies and what we do at Moment by Moment. We have had huge success recently with being nominated in both local and national awards around the country and thought this might be another good way of drawing attention to the premature birth issues some of us has faced or maybe someone you know in the future may face.

We have checked out the site and think we fit into the categories below.

If you think Moment by Moment deserves to be highlighted for the work it does and more importantly draw more mainstream media attention to the issues that surround Moment by Moment such as premature birth, premmie babies, pre-eclampsia and more then please take the time to visit the link below and nominate us in the below categories.

Best small business site
(max 25 employees)
The Internet has made it possible for small businesses with limited resources to take their goods and services to an audience they would never have dreamt of in the past. In this category, we will be looking at the sites of businesses with a maximum of 25 employees to see which site best utilises the Web in the promotion of its business.

Best parenting site
We are looking for the site that Australian parents find most helpful when looking for information and advice on family issues such as pregnancy, childbirth, parenting and family activities.

Best online shopping site
This award recognises Australian companies using the Web for online sales. We’re looking for shopping sites that embody all the vital aspects of online trading — ease of use and navigation, security, service and support.

http://www.netguide.com.au/v2/webawards/nominate.php

Thanks for all your support and please forward this onto your friends and family too.

Have a fantastic sunny weekend. Voting closes 19^th September 2008.

Moment by Moment is the leader when it comes to providing premmie babies and their parents with the much needed support, information and simply products like premmie clothing, premmie dummy, premature baby nappy packs and more.What is Moment by Moment up to now? You can bet they are always searching for new ways to support families of premmie babies, stocking only the best premmie clothes, teaching you about the great features of dressing a premmie baby and using such products like the cuski baby comforter. Check out what we have instore for you now! Take care and butterfly kisses to all those tiny premmie babies in hospital and at home too xxxx

10:31 AM - Saturday 13 September 2008 - comments {2} - post comment

AROMABABY® INVITATION to Melbourne Mums & FREE Gift for Moment by Moment Shoppers

3:41 PM - Tuesday 9 September 2008 - comments {2} - post comment

Earlybirds premmie baby wear goes to Spain

Moment by Moment is proud to stock the Earlybirds premmie baby wear range. Keep an eye out as we are restocking our range very shortly.

The Earlybirds clothing is the result of a mother who sturggled to find clothing for her tiny premmie baby boy so she used her passion to build a sucessful business to help others out there going through the premature birth rollercoaster ride.

Take a look below at where earlybirds is being stocked now. Congrats to Earlybirds it is great to see this beautiful range making an impact on others around the world.

Moment by Moment is the leader when it comes to providing premmie babies and their parents with the much needed premature baby support, premmie baby information and simple products like premmie clothing, premmie dummy, premature baby nappy packs and more.

What is Moment by Moment up to now? You can bet they are always searching for new ways to support families of premmie babies, stocking only the best premmie clothes, teaching you about the great features of dressing a premmie baby and using such products like the cuski baby comforter to help you bond with your premmie baby. Check out what we have instore for you now! Take care and butterfly kisses to all those tiny premmie babies in hospital and at home too xxxx

10:52 AM - Saturday 30 August 2008 - comments {1} - post comment

Jane Flemming and her Premmie Baby Twin Boys

Jane Flemming recently gave birth to twin boys 6weeks premmie.  Below she speaks to A Current Affair about the boys arrival, Premature Birth, Premmie Babies and IVF.

 
Jane Flemming Twins

Moment by Moment is the leader when it comes to providing premmie babies and their parents with the much needed support, information and simply products like premmie clothing, premmie dummy, premature baby nappy packs and more.What is Moment by Moment up to now? You can bet they are always searching for new ways to support families of premmie babies, stocking only the best premmie clothes, teaching you about the great features of dressing a premmie baby and using such products like the cuski baby comforter. Check out what we have instore for you now! Take care and butterfly kisses to all those tiny premmie babies in hospital and at home too xxxx

10:26 AM - Saturday 30 August 2008 - comments {0} - post comment

Music that reminds you of your Premmie and NICU Journey

I have been thinking about those ppecial songs that remind me of NICU time and all our special moment. Some are scary some are angry, sad, happy, filled with love and every other emotion you could possibly think of!  I have put together a few songs that have a impacted me during my daughters time in NICU and when she came home from hosptials.

What songs remind you of your time in NICU? Post a comment and let us know what songs and why if you would like to share that.

Stay tuned to the Moment by Moment website as we have some very speical exciting things about to happen to help you more during your time as a parent of a premmie baby or a friend or family member of those who do have a premmie baby.

If you think something is missing on our website maybe information, support or a product please email us and share your thoughts with us. We are doing our best to make you feel not so alone during this unexpected time in your life.

take a few minutes to listen and comment.

Take care and best wishes to those tiny premmie babies and parents out there xxxx

Don't forget to visit our Premmie Baby Store for Premmie Baby Clothing, Cuski a perfect Baby Comforter, premmie dummy,premature baby nappy packs and much much more.

1:11 PM - Thursday 28 August 2008 - comments {2} - post comment

Streetsmart shoppers go online

We are very excited today as two of our very good friends  FROCK YOU and ITTY BITTY YUPPY  have both been named on A Current Affair  ( ACA ) in a report about Streetsmart Shoppers going online. Both these lovely ladies have great stores so I urge you to go and visit them to find all the latest designer baby clothing and items like CUSKI BABY COMFORTER.  Frock You also has a great range of womens designer brands too so make sure you stop by and grab yourself a great gift as well as baby or big kids too.  

Check out the link and watch the video on ACA website http://aca.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=616268

11:30 AM - Tuesday 19 August 2008 - comments {0} - post comment

About Cuski

About Cuski

Cuski was created to provide parents with a stylish, natural and compact alternative to dummies or bulky blankets. Made from the softest natural cotton, Cuski is simple in design to help stimulate and develop your baby’s imagination.

The sense of smell is important to infants and help them to feel secure and loved. Cuski absorbs familiar scents that reassure your baby.

To help your child to bond with Cuski, mummy or daddy sleeps with it on the first night to transfer their comforting scents to its super-soft material.

In the morning, give Cuski to your baby and they will naturally adopt a new friend.

Your baby will associate Cuski with reassurance and security, safe in the knowledge that mummy or daddy is always near by.

From then on your baby will feel safe and secure, morning, noon and night – allowing you to get a well deserved rest at bedtime!

 

Cuski^® is available in the following colours:

Original Creamee Cuski^® (Ecru), Minty, Reddy. Blue-ee and Pinkee.
Single $39.95 (RRP)

Cuski^®  Cuski Kids Orthopeadic Sleep Pillow – 99.95

9:52 PM - Thursday 14 August 2008 - comments {1} - post comment

Cuski Revoutionizes Bonding Happy Baby - Happy Parents!

Cuski® Revolutionizes Bonding…
Happy Baby – Happy Parents!

Cuskiboo® is due to arrive June 2008 - She is made entirely from a special bamboo yarn that the Cuski® Team lovingly found on their travels. Bamboo is organically grown and totally sustainable. Ultra absorbent (like the original Cuski®), antibacterial, eco-friendly, bio-degradable, beautifully soft and naturally loveable... plus the most amazing find midwives discovered during tests with new born babies, was because of the extra absorbency Cuskiboo® holds, and in those early days when mummy/baby scents are so crucial, she not only carries mummy’s scents to baby but carries baby’s scent to mummy, so this is ultimately beneficial for mummy/baby bonding and  also helps to bring on mummy’s milk flow, thus helping to make breast feeding easier.  Cuskiboo® is a truly amazing comforter and it is always best to have 2 during the early days especially if planning to breast feed, one with baby one with mummy and keep swapping…
Cuskiboo® is designed to stimulate baby’s awareness of mummy’s unique familiar aroma, helping to promote a feeling of security and well-being in your baby.

Research has shown that babies with comforters are much happier and more secure as they progress through certain milestones in their lives. Babies at about nine months old often become very clingy to mum as they realise they are individuals and not part of their mothers. A comforter seems to help with this transition.

"Everyone had bought me all sorts of comforters when my little one was born. They were all furry , had rattles or not machine washable. She would chew them and the hairs of the fabric went in her mouth. I bought Cuski, looking for a replacement comforter, I have not gone back. She does not sleep without her Cuski!

- She chews it – the hairs of the fabric DO NOT come out.

- Machine washable – so all the dirt and germs can be removed.

- Breathable material – my baby shoves it in her face to sleep with, I feel safe because of the way it has been designed. It is not a square piece of cloth, its arms and legs and head ensures baby doesn’t get trapped or suffocated. Overall it is by far the best cute comforter available!"
Ms. Syeda Rizvi

Cuskiboo®

• The Original Baby Comforter  - The Ultimate Gift For Babies & Parents
• Naturally  Safe and an Alternative To Pacifiers, Dummies Or Soothers
• Cuskiboo’s Unique Concept Soothes, Calms & Comforts Your Baby
• Extra Cuddly Soft Hygroscopic Material  -  Fully Machine Washable
• Anti-Bacterial Properties Which Are Sustained Wash After Wash
• Made From Organically Grown Bamboo  - Eco Friendly, Biodegradable

Precious directions for use:

Keep Cuskiboo® close to you, either inside your clothing or next to you in bed for a few days; it will absorb all those comforting mummy/daddy scents, then introduce to baby to create a naturally safe comforting environment. Cuskiboo® helps to soothe and reassure your baby whilst giving you some well deserved mummy/daddy time!

Cuskiboo® is a calming, safe and a healthy alternative to other infant comforters. Cuskiboo® has been fully tested and conforms to all relevant UK, European & International safety standards.

It is machine washable and retains its comforting softness, wash after wash. Suitable from birth Cuskiboo® has all the qualities a child looks for in a comforter, softness, suckability, sheer lovability and of a course a label to twiddle but unlike a traditional blanket it can be easily replaced if lost or damaged.

Cuskis unique shape stimulates your child’s imagination- a round shape is the first shape a baby recognizes.

Bamboo

Cuskiboo® is made lovingly from a special bamboo yarn which has many wonderful properties. It is ultra absorbent, anti- bacterial, and importantly eco-friendly. Bamboo is highly sustainable and grows organically without the need for harmful chemical pesticides or fertilizers. It has a very short growth cycle, is easily cultivated and is totally bio-degradable. Additionally, when growing bamboo, it absorbs all those nasty green house gases and produces about 35% more oxygen than normal trees. So… by developing Cuskiboo® we are helping our planet.

Cuski® is the anglised Welsh term, meaning to sleep, and was created to bring comfort to babies and toddlers all over the world.

RRP 39.95 

contact Moment by Moment to pre-order yours today!

Made in Turkey under Fair European Conditions.
Recyclable & Bio-degradable Packaging – Cuski® is watching its carbon footprint…

9:47 PM - Thursday 14 August 2008 - comments {0} - post comment

Where will we stay while baby is in NICU?

As the mother of a premmie I understand that there are other issues you worry about while you premmie babay is in NICU. Yes you worry about them constantly but you also hvae a whole other bag of issues to worry about which I think most people don't think about. Things such as *siblings *schooling *money*accomodation while your in NICU*Parking*Healthy Eating etc There is quite alot there so today we will chat aout Accomodation services and what is available.

In my own experience we used a service called Rotary Lodge that was based on the hospital grounds it was a lifesaver for us because we had no where else to go and we were not use to being in the city and could no afford to go and stay at a hotel either. The rooms were made up of basic beds with an small bathroom, tv, kitchen although due to safety were unable to cook in it, telephone for those all important NICU phone calls and calls to home. We were charge around $40 a night so by the end of our 6week stay it definatly added up but with help from other services such as the salvos we were able to stay with our daughter. Many parents are put in these situations and thankfully most hospitals have places such as Rotary Lodge or in one Melbourne Hospital they have Lions House. Other hospitals are also really lucky to have a Ronald McDonald House which can be an amazing home away from home for families with sick and early babies and children. We also stayed at Ronald McDonald House while Airlie had her operation for her bilateral ingual hernias. Airlie stayed in the Grace Ward and I stayed in some onsite parent accomdation so I could be there to breasfeed her. My husband and son both stayed down at Ronald McDonald House and it made our whole experience at Westmead Children's Hospital alot easier.

I was prompted to write about this today after reading yet another story online about a premmie baby and his parents who are having to stay in accomodation far away from home while he fight for life 14weeks too early. Jack the little boy is doing well and his parents also have had help from Lion House while Jack has been in NICU.Jacks Mum  Mrs Coulthard said  "Without Lions House, I don't know where we would be," "It's been such an horrific time but the staff at the hospital, social services, everyone have been fantastic."

"Having a sick baby is a roller coaster ride," Ms Godbolt said.

"They might look like they are improving, but then they get an infection and they take a step back. It's so tough on the parents.

"That's why they appreciate being so close by, rather than being back at home, receiving updates over the phone.''

She said many parents stayed for three or four weeks and there had been cases where they had needed accommodation for up to four months.

Ms Coulthard said her husband was racking up the kilometres, working in Portland and returning to Heidelberg almost every second day.

"It's tough on both of us, but we couldn't ask for any more. We are just five minutes from the hospital," she said.

"Even if we transferred to the hospital in Warrnambool, it would still be more than an hour away from home, which would mean constant trips back and forth."

Sharing the house with other couples in similar positions has also made the ordeal more bearable.

"We have made life-long friendships with them because of what we've gone through," she said.

"If I'm having a bad day and I feel like a cry there is always someone there for you."

The foundation will hold a gala ball on August 23, with Fox FM comedian Matt Tilley as MC, to raise money for the new accommodation centre.

The State Government has already promised land for the development, which will be near the hospitals

The charity is trying to raise $5 million for a new 30-bedroom building.

Foundation member Katherine Godbolt, who set up Lions House Foundation with the help of Lions Victoria in 2005, said more than 300 families had already used the service. HOW YOU CAN HELP:

• What: Lions House gala ball fundraiser
• Where: RACV City Club, 501 Bourke St, Melbourne
• When: Saturday, August 23
• Details:  0418 553 144

If you can support this cause in sme way please do so. Thanks to the Lions House for providing the accomodation and lets hope the 5million can be raisied and build ASAP

Source Diamond Valley Leader

Have you had an experience with accomodation in hospitals or though services linked to your or babys hospital stay that you woud like to share with us? please share your comments or feel free to email me anytime.

8:25 AM - Wednesday 13 August 2008 - comments {0} - post comment

Moment by Moment finds - Babyology

   In our travels online recently we came across this great new Australian site - Babyology.

Started by a very style savvy Sydney based mum Mandi Gunsberger, Babyology is a trend report for bubs- dishing up only the hottest, newest, most wanted products for kids and where to find them (anywhere in the world). There’s a discussion board so you can chat with other hip parents, a product chooser to help guide you in selecting the right products for your child and of course the daily stream of hot new finds (everything from maternity to nursery). Add it to your favourites and check back regularly- we’re sure you’ll become addicted!

Do you have a favourite site? email us at fiona@momentbymoment.com.au  and we will share it will all our friends.

4:53 PM - Monday 11 August 2008 - comments {1} - post comment

Moment by Moment Finds - Busy Mothers

So as you know there is quite alot out there on the world wide web. We here at Moment by Moment thought we would share some great links and information with you. Below is some great resources and keep a look out on our blog as we add more great finds including great sales, information sites and much more.

www.busymothers.com.au

Busy Mothers is a website devoted to helping parents, and mums especially, get and stay organised.

Running a household, managing a family is a full time job.  However most parents these days do more than just that.  Often dad and mum work, and often on top of that they also study, look after relatives and volunteer too!!  The last thing they want to be doing is spending more time away from their family as they grapple with the paperwork of running a house.  That is why The Busy Mothers Companion was created.  The original and best resource created by mums for mums, The Busy Mothers Companion aims to give mums back some time (and brain space J) by giving them a place to keep everything they need in order to run their home and family life successfully. 

The Busy Mothers Companion has been a big success in Australia and we have recently released a New Zealand and International version as well.  Mums love a place to store everything and the fact that you purchase it as an eBook, so you get immediate delivery.  When you purchase The Busy Mothers Companion you get over 180 pages of checklists and templates to record all your important information, and you also get lots of hints and tips on how to get and stay organised. 

Here are some comments about The Busy Mothers Companion; even sleep expert and author Pinky McKay loves it.

"The Busy Mothers folder is great - you have left no event unplanned and the tips are fabulous "

Pinky McKay, parenting expert, certified lactation consultant, mother of five and author (Sleeping like a Baby)

This companion is a great assistant to any harried mother or father and an ideal gift for a new parent. I have already recommended it to my friends and will be purchasing copies for gifts in the future. Congratulations Gillian and Catherine
Susan Whelan, NSW

As soon as I heard about your companion I knew I had to have it ..... Just knowing that I can record every little aspect of our day to day lives in one spot (where it cant get lost) and it will all be there to refer to it when I need it ....
Sally, Qld

The Busy Mothers website also has a number of useful resources for parents like book reviews, web links and downloadable craft activities.  There is also a Forum and Chat Room so you an talk to other busy parents.

10:13 PM - Sunday 10 August 2008 - comments {0} - post comment

Premmie Baby & Passion Drive Mum to Big Winner

To Fiona Dixon she is just doing what needs to be done and to those who experience her services its the soul saving support they longed for andreally needed. Anyone can plainly see the understanding that Fiona provides at Moment by Moment is so much more then just shopping online for premmie baby clothing and gifts. Fiona understands her tiny clients because she is a mirror image of their mums as she stood in their bewildered shoes just a few short years ago. Fiona puts 110% into every single tiny babies gift and has the product in the post within hours of purchase just so the families get that great surprise of finding a present even if they have purchased it themselves. Fiona admits that she does take her job very serious, so serious infact that she has been known to email and phone those just to check up on the baby and parents to make sure they are doing okay.

All this hard work is paying off for Fiona but she is very humble when it comes to all the fuss. Fiona was recently nominated , became a finalist and the went on to win the NEW BUSINESS Award at the Central Coast NSW Busines Awards on Tuesday 5th Augst 2008. Fiona was very shocked but very honoured to have such an award given to Moment by Moment. Fiona said she hopes that by winning these awards it will highlight the premmie baby issues and premature birth in her community both online and in her local community.

If you would like to conact Fiona regading media please phone 0408689330 or email fiona@momentbymoment.com.au

12:00 AM - Friday 8 August 2008 - comments {0} - post comment

Why shop at Moment by Moment for your premmie Baby?

You find yourself inside the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit ( NICU ) and you wonder how you got here? How long will I be here? How did this happened?

Moment by Moment is here to help and support you by providing information, support, and understanding. We pride ourselves on sourcing the best suitable clothes for a premmie baby and gifts that any premature baby would love to recieve.

Bonding is highly important and we have many items here to help you do that. Make sure you take a close look at the Cuski Baby Comforter.  Dressing your baby can be a vital bonding experience and we provide you with beautifully made nicu safe premature baby clothing from earlybirds, teeny weeny, premi-kidz and more. We also great little outfits from Noo Designs for going home and growing up in style have a great supply of premmie dummies, premature baby nappies, gifts such as the Cuski Baby Comforter which can be used as a natural therapy through  smell between mummy and baby. Cuski also is great for settleing your baby when born full term too so don't think they are just for premmie babys. Cuski is a fashionable chic comforter that is functional too.

Moment by Moment truely understand what its like to be inside the NICU as we have been there with our own daughter who was born at 27weeker. This provides us with a real understanding of what happens inside a nicu, knowing what products are suitable and understanding from a parents point of view what can really make a difference during this time.

Please feel free to contact us via our website as we are more then happy to provide you additional service. We do our best to getthe product to you in the quickest time possible as we understand you want to shower your premmie baby with these precious baby gifts.

Please note we deliever directly to hospital beds, nicu and Ronald McDonald House so if you have to be away from home while your baby is in NICU we are here to help you with getting what you need fast. If your the family or friend of someone who has  just had a premature baby we are happy to help you find a gift and post it directly to them while still in hospital. Its really imporant for the parents to know that you are thinking of them and that you acknowledge this precious baby so please don't wait till baby comes home send a gift and card today!  Moment by Moment accepts credit card via our online store via both online secure banking system and paypal. we also offer bank deposit, money order and cheque for you too.

visit www.momentbymoment.com.au 

Thank you to those family and friends who purchase gifts for the premmie baby in your life. Many choose not to celebrate because of the unknown outcomes of our babies but this just makes it even more important to celebrate every second they are with us. 

10:57 PM - Thursday 7 August 2008 - comments {0} - post comment

Photo Shoot - Pride of Australia Role Model Nominee - Sunday Telegraph

I was honored recently to be nominated for the Pride of Australia Awards in the Role Model category. Below is the newspaper clipping where Airlie and I appeared on page 2 of the Sunday Telegraph.  I will also post some pictures that the wonderful Ella the Sunday Telegraphs photographer took of us. Thanks to Ella and Miawling. Thankyou to also to those who contacted me via phone, email and text to say congrats on my nomination. That meant alot to me.

Airlie and Mummy walking along blue bay beach central coast NSW

Running Mummy Airlie and Pinkee Cuski

1:27 AM - Tuesday 5 August 2008 - comments {0} - post comment

Shop4Kids & Cuski

Thanks to one of our stockiest Kat from Frock You the beautiful Cuski has been featured on the Shoptilyoudrop E-Boutique at www.shoptilyoudrop.com.au and will be also featured in the Shop4Kids magazine due out any day now!! Make sure you grab a copy and don't forget to visit Kat or Moment by Momnt to grab your Cuski today!!

1:22 AM - Tuesday 5 August 2008 - comments {0} - post comment

Breastfeeding Tops for Premmie Mums

Premmie Mums have their pregnancy cut short but we they still need to wear breastfeeding tops. I have come across a beautiful store called Sweet Lilly Maternity who ships out your order super quick and stocks a great range of products. They also stock a fantastic range of maternity wear for those of us who will go back again and know just how precious our pregnancies are. Visit Sweet Lilly Maternity today and tell them Moment by Moment sent you. Sweet Lilly have also recently become a proud stockiest of  the beautiful Cuski Baby Comforter.

1:05 AM - Tuesday 5 August 2008 - comments {1} - post comment

Premmie babies, birth age, corrected ages & birthdays?

Corrected Age, Actual Age, Birth Age  What does it all mean?

When it comes to premmie babies and their birthdays it can be a little hard to follow if you have had no experience with premmie babies before. There are so many dates that are important in your tiny premmie baby's life and so many people seem to have dfferent names for each on it can become just a little hard to keep track of.  You can go on correcting a premmie baby's age between the ages of 2 and 5 depending on their gestational age when born, their weight and also what ongoing issues they may have to deal with after experiencing premature birth.

When speaking in regards to my own daughter Airlie Fae who was born at 27weeks +5 days gestation due to pre eclampsia and HELLP Syndrome I would tell people that she was born 12weeks and 2 days early or 3months early. For the first 3 months of her life she grew inside the nicu and didn't really get to do a lot of what a newborn full term baby would do.  Her gestational age was what was written on her chart (the number of weeks mum was pregnant when baby wasborn) as well as how many weeks she had been outside the womb. Both of these numbers are very important factor and continued on for qutie some time after a premmie babies birth as this impacted on the milestones and when they would reach them.

In Airlie case I liked to explain to people that she was given an extra 3months to reach those milestones.  For exapmple when she was 6months old  (birth age - the day they came into the world early or  sometimes called their actual age) she was actually only suppose to be 3months old  had she been born full term so this was called her corrected age which was her due date age and sometimes you hear others call this their adjusted age. Airlie was born (6.1.06) which was classed as her birthday /birth age or actual age and this was when she would go on have her needles as long as she was well.  As she got bigger we also went on her weight for other meds under our doctors advice. If you have questions regading your baby please always contact your baby's doctor. 

Having to correct your premmie baby's age all the time can become hard when having to explain to well meaning people just what it all means??? It also can be a stress for the parents when they attend mothers groups and they are asked why their baby is 14months old but not yet walking? or some other milestone that full term babies would have reached by that age. If you have questions for a mum of a premmie try to ask them in a minful way. To the premmie mums I would say try to use these questions as a way of educating the general public about premmie babies and how amazing they are.

I hope in time to come the general public will become well informed about premature birth and premmie babies and all that impacts them.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KALLI

I am a little late but I really wanted to share this special birthday with you.

Little Kalli turned 1 on the 23rd June. Her Birth weight 1505 grams

See the amazing pictures below. Kalli's Mum promises us that she is going to write her story and share it with us all soon.

7 - 7.5 kg on her first birthday 23rd June 2008.

Congrats to Kalli and her family. I remember the first email I got from Kalli's mummy who was looking for my tiny baby tights for Kalli to wear. I am so amazing and very happy to know Kalli one year on after her early arrival into the world.

Do you have a special day you would like to share with us? If so please contact us at fiona@momentbymoment.com.au and we will post your pictures here to share and celebrate your amazing days.

Don't forget to visit Moment by Moment for all your premmie needs including premmie clothes, cuski baby comforter, premmie nappy, premature baby dummy, cuski kds pillow and much more.

12:04 AM - Tuesday 5 August 2008 - comments {0} - post comment

Keria-Lee and the Miracle Babies City To Surf 2008

1:56 PM - Monday 21 July 2008 - comments {2} - post comment

City to Surf - How you can help!

As you all know I am a very big supporter of charity and to those who go out of their way to support the charities that in turn help us all so much. Below is a little interview with one such person. Jenny is a mother of 2 and a small business owner. Please support Jenny with a few dollars.

I decided to do the City2Surf with my 2 children (10 and 4) for no particular reason other than that my husband had entered, he'll be running/jogging (I'll be walking and pushing a stroller for when my son won't walk any further! ;) ). I figured we were going to be there anyway cheering on and waiting for my husband, so we may as well participate. I'd spoken to a friend who's done the run twice before and she said there are lots of people there pushing strollers and walking and that I should give it a go.

Once I signed up to do the City2Surf via the Sun Herald Web site, at the end of the process there was an option to do some fund-raising for your favorite charity. I thought, why not? I'm all for helping a good cause, and all the nominated charities for this year were fantastic, and it was a difficult choice which one to choose.

In the end I chose The Starlight Foundation, thankfully, I've never needed their assistance, but I know that they do such wonderful work, and thought they would be a great charity to raise money for. Children are our future, and we need to protect and take care of them the best way we know how.



My name is Jenny Kohen and I own ID Your Child. My website is dedicated to providing products that will assist people in reconnecting with a lost, missing or injured loved one. I produce ID Cards for those with small children, as we all know small children have a tendency to wander off from you when you least expect it. The ID cards can also be used by those with special needs, illness or impairment. We also sell ID wristbands and Sport ID wristbands for children as well as adults.

On Sunday, August 10, I am participating in The Sun-Herald City2Surf along with my 2 children aged 10 and 4. We are trying to raise as much money as I can for a great cause by taking the 14km journey to Bondi. You can find out more about the charity (The Starlight Foundation) which we are raising money for, by clicking on the link below to visit my very own fundraising page. Please dig deep to sponsor me in this event, it only takes a few seconds.

You can also help my fundraising efforts, by sending this page onto as many people as possible.

Thank you very much.

http://city2surf.everydayhero.com.au/Jennifer_Kohen

10:53 PM - Wednesday 2 July 2008 - comments {0} - post comment

Vote for Moment by Moment

Fiona Dixon is the driver and inspiration behind Moment by Moment
The concept and business was born after her daughter Airlie Fae was born due to Pre Eclampsia and HELLP Syndrome3months early weighing 861grams (1lb 14oz) This equates to the same size as a 600ml Mount Franklin water bottle  Moment by Moment leads the way when it comes to providing premature baby products in a supportive and informative environment.

Moment by Moment has been nominated for the Central Coast Business Awards in the category of New Business This will help to grow the awareness for premmie babies and the issues surrounding prematurity so please vote! Click the read more to learn how to do this

Inspiration, Education, and Understanding is what Fiona provides to her tiny customers and their families.

Through Fiona’s passion, caring and driven potential Moment by Moment has proudly become the Exclusive Australian Distributor of Cuski Baby Comforter.  Cuski is an Award Winning European Comforter that is not only fashionably chic but practical too.  Used by premmie babies, newborns and big kids too the Cuski is a special friend for all.

Fiona has gone on to achieve great things since the birth of her daughter Airlie, which anyone can clearly see motivates her rather then holds her back. 

Fiona believes you must be the change you wish to see in the world and she is doing just that!
I am very excited and would love your support by asking you to please vote for Moment by Moment. Please pass this info on to all your friends. I really appreciate your help with this.

It takes all but a few minutes to vote through the link below. - Vote 1 -NEW BUSINESS then choose Moment by Moment

Alternatively you can download a form that can be printed filled out and posted back

This is a great way to improve my local and national name among my business peers. It also grows the awareness for premmie babies and the issues surrounding prematurity so please vote!

CLICK HERE TO VOTE FOR MOMENT BY MOMENT http://www.precedent.net/public/forms/nsw_form_vote_for_a_business.aspx?ID=centra

7:54 AM - Wednesday 25 June 2008 - comments {1} - post comment

Your invited! Listen to Fiona talk about her experience

Online event with Fiona Dixon

9:20 PM - Tuesday 24 June 2008 - comments {0} - post comment

In Memory of Jane McGrath

3:42 PM - Sunday 22 June 2008 - comments {0} - post comment

Quote of the day

11:19 PM - Friday 20 June 2008 - comments {0} - post comment

Premmie Baby Numbers Vers Number of NICU Beds Available

Article from:

THE state's most fragile newborns are being sent interstate because Victoria's neonatal intensive care units are stretched to breaking point.

Over the past week, Victoria's 72 neonatal intensive care cots have been full, forcing dangerously premature babies or mothers with high-risk pregnancies to be flown interstate for life-preserving care.

Four acute babies or mothers with high-risk pregnancies have been flown to Canberra or Adelaide in the past fortnight.

At the same time, the Brumby Government celebrated the opening of the new $250 million Royal Women's Hospital, which has been widely criticised for being too small to cope with a rising birthrate.

The Department of Human Services yesterday revealed that 12 newborns from regional areas, who would normally be treated at Melbourne hospitals, had been flown interstate for care in the past year.

This was up from just three in 2005-06 and nine in 2006-07.

The new Royal Women's is equipped with 18 neonatal intensive care cots but can accommodate an extra two when stretched -- the same as the hospital it replaced.

Newborn Emergency Transport Service state medical director Dr Michael Stewart said the system was under pressure from a surge in demand.

He said no babies had been harmed by the recent journeys.

"It is obviously not ideal to have to do this, but we are looking at what is the safest and most effective for the whole system at the time as well as being very cognisant of the individual baby and their families," he said.

"I don't think in the ideal world it is good to move an adult, a child or a baby from one hospital to another or out of the state if they need intensive care, but the reality is that is occasionally what we need to do.

"These peaks can last for a few days to a week or so, sometimes they last several months, but the tip of the peak we hope just lasts for several days because that does get very difficult to manage."

The new $1 billion Royal Children's Hospital will have an increase in its number of neonatal intensive care cots when it is completed in 2011.

Monash Medical Centre and Mercy Hospital for Women are the only other Victorian hospitals with units to sustain the dangerously premature newborns who need help to breath.

Dr Stewart said the state usually coped with less than 60 babies needing intensive care at any one time and "cot-block" had improved since 2000 when there were just 48 Victorian neonatal intensive care unit cots.

But Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists president Christine Tippett said there were simply not enough neonatal intensive care cots to meet demand.

"The four units are constantly running at or near capacity and the pressure on staff and equipment is at an unsustainable level," she said.

Department of Human Services spokesman Steve Pivetta said babies in border areas were often closer to interstate hospitals and denied a lack of resources was to blame.

My Reply after a number of other public members posted with very dry and narrow minded comments about the government doing the wrong thing and why don't toyota give back the money the govement gave them last week to fund this and a few comments over the baby bonus too.

You can see why I wanted to share my opinion. 

Just for your information Victoria has some of the best survival rates in the world and have wonderful hospitals and staff running them. For the size of the VIC state, birth rate and population maybe this has been suffice up until now and in the future it will grow with the demand.

As a mother of a premmie I have to say the continuing 'baby bonus' speech is getting a bit old with me. My daughter was born when I was just 27weeks pregnant due to 2 pregnancy induced diseases called pre eclampsia and HELLP Syndrome. We didn't know it was going to happen and No amount of money would have any parent wishing for a premmie. So before saying that THINK first. Airlie was born at Sydney's RNS weighing 861grams (1lb 14ozs)and given amazing care. I think our system like any can be improved but first you have to be grateful for what we have! If you point the finger then come up with a solution and one that doesn't just count on Toyota handing back its incentive to build more eco friendly cars because when the city is all full of smog what are you going to be saying about that then? The shortage of nurses in every department of our health system is making an impact on our society. As technology advances so does the chance of such tiny infants surviving. I agree it was oversight to see a new hospital not adding to its bed numbers but then again if the staff and the resources are not there then why allocate more beds? A neonatal bed costs a lot to run per day and there is no point having a bed that cant be staffed and maintained to our countries very high standards. I would gladly go to the edge of the world if my child needed this equipment and I am sure if you asked any other person who has actually been inside a NICU they would say the same thing.

Posted by: Fiona Dixon - www.momentbymoment.com.au of Central Coast NSW 3:03pm June 17, 2008

What do you think? leave us a message and share your thoughts on how you see our NICU system working and how it maybe improved. Did you ever experience this during your NICU stay either in Australia or internationally? How was your experience?
 Thanks for reading and don't forget to check out our interesting resources at www.momentbymoment.com.au

10:00 PM - Friday 20 June 2008 - comments {1} - post comment

Royal Women's Hospital Melbourne

9:16 PM - Friday 20 June 2008 - comments {0} - post comment

preterm / premmie Image disturbs MP's

Liberal MP Ken Smith was upset the image was sent, adding that only "a very sick man" would use the operation to back his case.

"I just can't believe he could send that stuff around," Mr Smith said.

"It looks so awful. It's no way to present an argument; it turns out it's a premature baby. I just find what he's done is despicable."

Mr Kavanagh along with the greens hold the balance of power in the upper house and who won by a shock result due to new voting reform. Mr Kavangah said there had been mixed reaction to the picture but was concerned that many did not realise that the baby in this picture was actually still alive.

"It isn't an abortion," he said. " It was a powerful image and it was unfortunate that MPs did not engage in the debate.

"I think they're required to debate and keep an open mind," he said.

"It has relevance to the abortion debate."

This comes to light as the Victorian MPs decide if abortion should still be illegal in their state.

Note : the newspaper itself did not post the picture but I have found a copy here  21week gestation

10:36 AM - Sunday 8 June 2008 - comments {0} - post comment

I WON !!!!

 We come across competitions every day and most of us never enter (well I know thats what I do) Well I decided to enter a competition and I won! 

I have been receiving this email newsletter for some time now and after  reading through  and seeing their latest helpful information for women and gadgets I decided to  enter their competition.  Please see the details below about my win and how I won. Please visit the website and sign up for their newsletter and take a look around the website it is really a great read, I know I have picked up some great info there.

Thank you to Claire, Siobhan and the connect women team for my new wonderful phone and for the kind words.

Connected Women

Last issue's winner

The prize offered in the last issue of ConnectedWomen was a spectacular Shine Slide from LG Electronics valued at $249 (pictured right). The Shine Slide is part of LG's Black Label series of fashion-inspired mobile phones. It incorporates a silver-mirror finish LCD screen, two megapixel camera, and video and MP3 player.

We received a record number of entries, which is testimony not only to the desirability of the Shine, but also to our growing readership.

There can only be one winner, however, and the phone goes to Fiona Dixon of Toowoon Bay, NSW. We were very moved by Fiona's story about the premature birth of her daughter, Airlie Fae, and how her digital camera helped capture every magic moment in their lives together since. Fiona's experience also inspired her to set up a business devoted to providing products such as clothes, dummies and feeding equipment especially for premmie babies.

Here is Fiona's submission, and scroll down to see her beautiful pictures:

"My favourite appliance/gadget is my digital camera and I can't be without it. I use it for both personal use and for my business, Moment by Moment, and find it's the very best thing to capture all those special moments. Our daughter was born at 27 weeks, so since her birth we have been clicking away. Without pictures, no one would have ever believed that she was 861grams, as now she is a happy healthy 2 year old girl. Our camera has caught some amazing moments in our life and now we can share them with you and share in our future."

 

Airlie weighed just 861 grams at birth.

By age one, Airlie weighed a "huge" 6.7 kilos.

Fiona with her happy and healthy two-year-old.

12:05 PM - Friday 30 May 2008 - comments {0} - post comment

Finished Bizness Babes

11:39 AM - Thursday 29 May 2008 - comments {0} - post comment

Part 3 First Day of Pre School for Airlie Fae our 27weeker

11:18 AM - Friday 23 May 2008 - comments {0} - post comment

Part 2 choosing a pre school for your premmie baby

10:48 AM - Monday 19 May 2008 - comments {0} - post comment

Premmie babies and pre school Part 1

11:43 AM - Saturday 17 May 2008 - comments {0} - post comment

Whats it all really worth??

9:14 PM - Tuesday 13 May 2008 - comments {0} - post comment

Bizness Babes

• time management
•  teaching you to think like a business owner
• cash flow
• budgets
•  marketing
• more so check it out today

8:58 PM - Tuesday 13 May 2008 - comments {0} - post comment

Mumzone

One Mum's Story: Fiona & Airlie

Airlie Fae less then 48 hours old next to her Daddy's hand weighing 861 grams (792g at her smallest)

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 apposed 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 Mount Franklin 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.

The first time I met my daughter it was a very surreal moment. I was wheeled in on a bed and the most amazing song Angel by Sarah MacLauchlan was playing softly in the background. A room filled with pod like cribs surrounded me and busily doctors and nurses worked around us yet it felt like we were the only people in the world. She was tiny and fragile but yet an amazing spirit was already evident in my tiny daughter. We chose to name her Airlie as she was as breathtaking and unique and Fae in honor of her Great Nan and my mother too.

Over the coming weeks our lives were changed forever. 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. 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 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 the same which took some time to get use to. Between 32 weeks and 35 weeks Airlie began to breastfeed starting at 1 feed a day and building her way up until finally she was fully breastfed.

At 35 weeks gestation or 6 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 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. For the first year of her life she stayed very small. 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. We had several appointments with health professionals like physios, pediatricians 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.

At age 1 Airlie was a huge 6.7kg and still wearing 000 clothing 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 angel babies and I learnt so much from them. I have promised myself to never be someone who fears saying something so chooses to say nothing at all in any situation.

I was so compelled to support other families of premmie babies that I set up www.momentbymoment.com.au. The site provides clothing and gifts for premmie 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, Cuski Kid's Orthopaedic Pillow and My Tiny Hands Please Wash Your Hands Signs. I was told once that little acorns grow into big oak trees and that speaks to me on many different levels. We have also added www.cafeprem.com.au which is a blogging community allowing families and health professionals to share their experiences on premature birth, premmie babies and beyond.

I also founded the first support group for premmie babies and sick newborns on the Central Coast of NSW which is also a founding member group of the National Premmie Foundation.

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 this I understand that everything needs to be improved but that we must be grateful for what we have and then to see that the glass is half full and not half empty. Now 2 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.

If you want to learn more about premmie babies please visit www.momentbymoment.com.au and please share your stories with us.

8:34 PM - Tuesday 13 May 2008 - comments {0} - post comment

Stem Cells and Cerebral Palsy ( CP )

Have you ever seen the ads for  banking your baby's cord blood or donating it? I know I have and have thought about it. We all have a tendancy to think I won't ever need that but after past events in our lives watching on and seeing others face things they never could have dreamed of you sure have to think twice about a lot of things in your life.

Last week while watching Ch10 news I heard a remarkable story about a little boy Dallas Hextell who had CP but once treated with his own stem cells has made a remarkable improvement.   Dallas was not diagnosed till he was 8months old when his family change peads. His family had made the choice when pregnant to keep their son's cord blood because his fathers family had a family history of heart disease and his mum had been adopted so there were unsure of family history. Until Dallas had the stem cells he could not walk, wave, talk or crawl and he was 18months of age. It is reported that within five days, a different child emerged — laughing, clapping, waving and reacting. After having an amazing 191 million steam cells infused in around 1 hour this may cure him of CP by the age of 7 years.  His family still have 15 million steam cells left so in the event that he did need to use that later in life they still have this available. It cost the family $2000 US dollars to bank their son's cord blood and an additional $120 a year for storage.

Princess Mary’s Insurance Policy for Baby Prince

When Princess Mary gave birth, she took the once in a lifetime opportunity to collect and store the cord blood stem cells from her baby prince.

Immediately following his birth, the medical team at the Copenhagen University Hospital collected the cord blood from the baby royal. Crown Prince Fredrik's chamberlain Per Thornit has revealed that the state hospital had been entrusted to collect and store the young prince’s cord blood.

While it is hoped that they will never have to use them, the knowledge that they are immediately available for Christian Valdemar Henri John gives peace of mind to the young royals.

Scientists have discovered that cord blood found in the umbilical cord and placenta after childbirth is a rich source of blood forming cells that can be used instead of bone marrow transplants in children.

A cord blood transplant can also offer a greater chance of matching with less risk of infection.

The placenta and umbilical cord and the blood in it have no function after the baby is born and are normally discarded. Therefore, collecting the cord blood after a baby is born and after the cord is cut does not affect the mother or the baby in any way. Once this valuable cord blood is collected it can be taken to the laboratory for freezing and storage until it is needed for a life saving transplant.

The BMDI Cord Blood Bank is an affiliate of AusCord and sponsored by Ronald McDonald Charities.

source bmdi

Cryosite is an Australian public listed company, established in 2000 with the specific objective of providing specialized services to a wide range of clients including the research, medical, pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries.

In 2001, Cryosite launched the first private cord blood service in Australia and is the only service in Australia to have an unrestricted licence from the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) for the collection, processing, testing, storage and release of cord blood. To date, more than 600 obstetricians have participated in collecting cord blood for our clients at more than 250 hospitals and birthing centers throughout Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Singapore, Noumea, and Japan. We have successfully collected cord blood from every state in Australia.

In 2002 Cryosite expanded its range of services to include the provision of clinical trial logistics services to pharmaceutical companies and clinical research organizations. Outsourcing the management of clinical trial supplies and samples plays a particularly effective role in clinical development and allows clinical research organizations, doctors and researchers to focus their resources on other key aspects of trial management and development. This is particularly beneficial as clinical trials become more complex and costly. Our blue chip client profile recognise the benefits of working with a customer orientated company and some of our clients include Pfizer (Australia) Pty, Bristol-Myers Squibb Pty Ltd, Schering-Plough, Johnson & Johnson Research Pty Ltd and St Vincent’s Hospital (Sydney).

In 2004 Cryosite entered a collaboration with the Centre for Blood Therapies at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Institute (Peter Mac) in Melbourne, Vic. The Peter Mac is one of the world’s largest groups dedicated to cancer treatment and research and their range of services includes the collection, processing and cryopreservation of adult blood stem cells which are then stored until they are required for infusion.

This collaboration with Cryosite is part of an innovative approach taken by the Peter Mac to provide patients who are about to undergo high dose chemotherapy for the treatment of cancer, to have their blood stem cells collected and stored for potential therapeutic use in the future. As chemotherapy inhibits the ability of the bone marrow to make new blood cells, stem cells which have been stored prior to treatment can be used to restore normal bone marrow function. Cryosite provides the specialist cryogenic shipping and storage services that are required for the long-term storage of the blood stem cells.

Operations are carried out in a state-of-the-art 800m2 NATA accredited (ISO/IEC 17025) facility, that operates to World’s Best Practice and GMP standards. The facility is AQIS approved under section 46a of the Quarantine Act for the quarantine of class 5.1 goods. The facility is secured and monitored 24 hours a day and provides clients with a range of storage conditions and options including ambient (18-25°C), refrigerator (2-8°C), frozen (-20 to -80°C) and cryogenic (liquid nitrogen). Our Quality standards ensure compliance with all necessary regulatory requirements.

11:13 PM - Monday 24 March 2008 - comments {0} - post comment

Smile Box

Make a slideshow - it's easy!

2:56 PM - Monday 24 March 2008 - comments {1} - post comment

Cystic Fibrosis

Cystic Fibrosis (CF) is a recessive genetic condition. The gene involved in CF gives instructions for the cells to make a protein that controls the movement of salt in and out of cells.

This salt transport gene lies on chromosome 7. Everyone has two copies of chromosome 7 and therefore everyone has two copies of the salt transport gene. Scientists have called it the CFTR (Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Regulator) gene.

Is CF contagious?

No, CF is not contagious and is strictly genetic.

Is it inevitable that a person with CF will need a lung transplant in the future?

Source
CYSTIC FIBROSIS AUSTRALIA

12:50 AM - Monday 24 March 2008 - comments {0} - post comment