November 17th ~ World Prematurity Awareness Day

November 17th is World Prematurity Awareness Day.

I never thought that World Prematurity Awareness Day would be something that would become so close to my heart until Remembrance Day of 2008.  Our baby was due February 3rd, 2009, but she cannon-balled her way into this world (and delivered herself without any doctors in the room) on November 11th, 2008.

Sometimes pregnancies just do not go the way you expect them to.  Sometimes complications arise.  For some, there are high risk pregnancies. There are many reasons for preterm births.  Prior to giving birth to Little One, I had never heard of anyone I knew giving birth to a preemie.  It was scary.  I felt isolated.  All my friends who had babies, had textbook pregnancies and deliveries.

I feel like there are many more resources on preterm births readily available now.  I also feel that it is important that we keep spreading awareness.  This is why World Prematurity Awareness Day is so important.

Approximately 15 million babies are born preterm each year, accounting for about one in 10 of all babies born worldwide.

Her early days in the NICU seemed to be never ending.  Each day we were met with uncertainty.  Would she be healthy?  Would she have a setback? Each day was a roller coaster ride of emotions.

I remember thinking how tiny her preemie diapers were, and yet they were still too big for her.  The nurses in the NICU would fold them, because she was so little.

Huggies Little Snugglers Nano Preemie Diaper

After our experience having a preemie in the NICU, I feel in my heart that it is important to help raise awareness on the unique needs of premature babies and to also talk about Huggies’ continued commitment to NICUs.

Huggies has worked closely with NICU nurses and neonatal therapists to develop the Huggies Little Snugglers Nano Preemie Diaper after noticing that NICUs lacked a diaper solution that met the unique needs of premature babies, which launched in Canadian NICUs earlier this year. These diapers are specially-designed to promote healthy growth and development of the most fragile preemies (as small as two lbs.), and protect their delicate skin. While nobody plans for a premature birth, knowing that all babies – regardless of size – are receiving the best care possible helps provide comfort to moms everywhere.

Little One is a happy, healthy 9 year old whose dream is to one day become a NICU nurse so she can help save preemies like her.