Diamond Creek mum shares premature births experience ahead of Walk for Prems
Diamond Creekâs Helen Trotter understands better than most the stress and anxiety that comes with being the parent of a premature baby. So on October 27, she will join thousands of mums in a walk to raise money for the 48,000 born every year.
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At birth, the combined weight of Diamond Creek mum Helen Trotter’s two daughters was less than the average baby.
Born 13 weeks premature and weighing only 1kg each, Ms Trotter said it was touch and go for both Stephanie, 27 and Bridget, 23, during the first few months of their lives.
“They were very sick children to start with,” she said.
“We had some close calls and we didn’t think we were going to keep either of them at times during those first three months they were in hospital.”
“It’s probably one of the hardest things we’ve ever had to deal with.”
About 8 per cent of babies are born prematurely — at or before 37 weeks — in Australia but for Ms Trotter premature birth struck three times.
In between her two daughters, she gave birth to a son 11 weeks premature, but he had a blood infection and tragically died the same night.
Ms Trotter said premature birth was an experience she “wouldn’t wish on (her) worst enemy”.
She said each time it was “stressful, overwhelming and frightening”.
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“It’s the unknown, especially with my first one, you just don’t know what’s going to happen,” Ms Trotter said.
“You could go in one day and they could be really sick.
“We lived in Greensborough at the time and going into East Melbourne every day was quite a trek and quite consuming.”
She was finally able to take both girls home around the time of their initial due date but she said it was still stressful.
“Our second one Bridget was still on oxygen so she needed a big oxygen bottle that I had to carry around with me for three to six months,” Ms Trotter said.
“I was very lucky that I had a great family and husband behind me (because) unless you’ve been in the situation you just wouldn’t understand how time consuming and stressful it is.
“The little girls they just kept fighting all the way (and) we haven’t looked back since.”
On October 27 Ms Trotter and her family will join thousands of others across the country in the 10th Walk for Prems.
The walk is the largest annual fundraiser for Life’s Little Treasures Foundation, which works to support the 48,000 premature or sick babies born in Australia every year.
So far they’ve raised more than $1.8 million, with the foundation aiming to raise another $350,000 this year.
Foundation board member Dr Simon Fraser said most families were not expecting or ready for a premature baby meaning it could cause significant financial, emotional and psychological hardship.
The Melbourne walk will begin at 9am at Albert Park Lake.
Walks will also be held in Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide, Hobart, Canberra, Perth, Cairns, Townsville, Ballarat, Goulburn Valley and Gippsland.
For more information visit walkforprems.org.au.
jack.paynter@news.com.au