• Cameron, Nicole, Elise and Isabelle.

Crucial Care for Newborn Twins

For mum-to-be Nicole, it was an 'absolute blessing' to discover she was pregnant at 28 years-old. But she was very nervous about successfully making it through the first trimester.

She had lost her first child in the womb at 13 weeks and did not want to lose another. So she had a scan at 10 weeks to see if the baby was developing normally.

Nicole said: “The nurse put the monitor on and said ‘oh, look… here’s one baby and here’s another baby!’ I was in pure shock. It felt very meaningful to find out we were getting two baby girls.”

At 29 weeks, Nicole’s life changed overnight. One of the twins was diagnosed with growth restriction.

“The twins had to come out early otherwise they may not make it," she explains.

To ensure the safety of her twins, every week became a goal for Nicole to make it to 34 weeks. They tried to induce Nicole, but "my body was not keen."

After a c-section a four pound, five ounce Isabelle and a four pound Elise were born.

“They held the babies up over the screen for me to see them…I cried a lot. Then they were quickly whisked away to the Special Care Baby Unit.”

Isabelle was struggling to breathe and needed an urgent medical intervention to keep her airways clear. “I was very nervous for Isabelle, about what was going to happen to her.”

Overnight, with careful monitoring the nurses stabilised Isabelle.

“Without the combined care that the twins and I received I don’t think they would have survived. The nurses really put their heart and soul into what they do. Every step of the way they kept me informed about the twins. So I felt quite prepared for each day.”

The first 10 minutes is critical for a newborn, particularly a premature baby. Sadly, for some they need help at birth.

At North Shore and Waitakere Hospitals it is vital our medical staff have training equipment that is up-to-date to match advancing medical techniques. 

Currently our doctors and nurses need a Simulator Baby New Born Manikin, designed to provide one of the most realistic training experiences.

Can you help us raise the $43,149.45 needed to purchase one?

Your donation, small or large means we can purchase the training manikin and reach a new level of care for fragile and sick babies.

Please donate now by visiting, www.wellfoundation.org.nz or call us on 09 447 0138.


Issue 88 June 2018