It often means being airlifted or driven to a hospital in a major city with no notice, no supplies and torn away from everyone who might be able to help.
It’s that reality that Life’s Little Treasures Foundation chief executive Felicia Welstead said had been driving the foundation’s work for 21 years now.
“You can be 300km from your mum, your dad, your brothers and sisters, anyone who can offer support,” she said.
“And if this isn’t your first birth, you could have a toddler at home; you’re torn between not being there for them and being in the city with your baby.”
Regional and rural hospitals are only equipped to care for babies born from 32 weeks onwards.
Anything earlier and families are sent to one of Victoria’s five tertiary hospitals — the Royal Women’s, the Royal Children’s, the Mercy, Monash or Joan Kirner — often with little to no warning.
“Often they’ve gone into hospital just saying something doesn’t feel quite right, and next thing they’re sitting on a plane to Melbourne, delivering that baby the same day,” Ms Welstead said.
What followed, Ms Welstead said, was usually months of separation.
The mother, usually at the Ronald McDonald House in the city, sits bedside by her baby, while her partner goes home to work and look after the family
It is that isolation and unpreparedness, not just the practical shortfalls, that drove the foundation to create a new regional support pack.
The first 60 of which were packed on Friday, September 11.
Each pack is filled with baby items and padded inserts to take your baby home in, alongside essential items for the mother, including but not limited to a toothbrush or toothpaste, a baby starter kit, tea, coffee and biscuits.
Life’s Little Treasures also provides these families with a $100 voucher so they can get to and from the city or buy additional things they require.
These packs will soon be sent to priority regional hospitals in Shepparton, Wangaratta and Geelong, with some making their way into major hospitals in the city.
“Our focus has moved a little bit to regional areas, but we support all families, whether they’re in the city, regional or rural across Australia,” Ms Welstead said.
Life’s Little Treasures is returning to Shepparton’s Victoria Park Lake for its ‘Walk for Prems’ event on Saturday, October 3 as part of its national series of walks raising vital funds and awareness of the challenges faced by families with premature babies.
For more information on how to register for the event or make a donation to Life’s Little Treasures Foundation, visit walkforprems.org.au.
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