10 meaningful ways to support World Prematurity Month

World Prematurity Day on 17 November is one of the most important days in the year to raise awareness of the challenges and burden of preterm birth globally.

Every year, the Ickle Pickles Children’s Charity supports World Prematurity Day, shining a spotlight on the 90,000 babies born sick or prematurely in the UK.

Ickle Pickles’ supporters Himn and Ellis Azadin shared their twin’s unique story to spread awareness of the 100,000 babies needing neonatal care each year in the UK during Ickle Pickles’ World Prematurity Day celebrations on the 17th of November.

Himn and Ellis found out on their wedding day in March 2024 that they were expecting a twin boy and a girl. Everything changed very quickly less than a month after their wedding when they were told that Ellis’ waters had broken with one of her twins at only 22 weeks + 2 days gestation. This is called PPROM (preterm premature rupture of membranes). The midwife gave her condolences whilst Ellis was still pregnant. But luckily, she was blue-lighted to another NICU and remained pregnant for 17 more days before giving birth at 24 weeks + 5 days.

Both parents felt helpless in NICU. Now the twins had survived their very premature birth, our long 117-day neonatal journey began. Their ickle boy weighed only 670g and their ickle girl just 700g. They had to trust the doctors and nurses who became family.

Ellis’ advice to other parents going through the neonatal journey is that “the NICU journey may seem like a dark and unknown time. But try to find the stars in each day. Only in darkness, you can see the stars. 

Each doctor or nurse is a star on your journey and every day that dawns is a new day, one of hope and opportunity and one step closer in your baby’s journey. Have faith that your babies are warriors and have trust in every doctor and nurse.

Ickle Pickles was a part of our journey and we are so grateful for every person involved in the care of our twins.”

Twins Malik and Muna spent a total of 117 days in NICU but are now home and thriving.

Through sharing their story Ellis and Himn hope to inspire other families and remind them that they are not alone. Intensive care equipment donated by Ickle Pickles has been vital in their twins’ treatment. With the increasing incidence of premature birth and the improving survival rates, incredible strains are being placed on the budgets, infrastructure and equipment being used to treat premature and sick babies.

Since 2009, the Ickle Pickles have raised over £3 million for intensive care equipment, but there is a lot to do to achieve their mission of giving every newborn a chance. They created a list of 10 meaningful ways to support World Prematurity Month, to raise awareness of babies like Muna and Malik and to help others.

1. Purple is the official colour for raising awareness about prematurity. You could host a Wear Purple Day for World Prematurity Day and ask everyone to donate £1 to wear something purple on your neonatal unit, workplace or school. Wear purple clothing, accessories, or ribbons to spark conversations and show your support.

2. Share your story on social media platforms or Ickle Pickles’ website. Your story can increase awareness, offer hope and inspire others.

3. Think about donating or fundraising for your local neonatal unit. Just £3 a month (the cost of a cup of coffee) can create a significant impact by funding life-saving equipment or providing NICU peer support.

4. Volunteer your skills and time to make a difference. You could assist at events, organize fundraisers, or provide administrative help.

5. Host a Fundraising Event for Ickle Pickles’ World Prematurity Day celebrations on the 17th of November and explore their fundraising ideas. Organize a community event like a walkathon, bake sale, or silent auction to raise both funds and awareness while uniting people for a worthy cause.

6. Gain knowledge about preterm birth and promote NICU awareness by reading and sharing Ickle Pickles’ stories.

7. Illuminate Landmarks or Light a Candle. Advocate for local landmarks to be illuminated in purple during November for public awareness. If that is a bit of a stretch, mark World Prematurity Day by lighting a candle and showing solidarity with families affected by prematurity.

8. If you know a family with NICU experience, offer practical assistance such as helping with household chores, providing meals, or simply being available to listen.

9. Get involved with Ickle Pickles to improve neonatal care. Become a NeoHero for your local neonatal unit and discover what your unit needs most urgently. Help out or donate baked goods at one of our World Prematurity Day Bake Sales.

10. Join the global campaign by using hashtags like #WorldPrematurityDay to raise awareness online. Tag @icklepicklescharity to amplify your message.

Supporting just one or two of these ideas can help bring attention to the challenges of prematurity and provide support to those who need it most.

If you want to get more involved, Ickle Pickles provides fundraising advice and event management expertise. Email [email protected] to receive fantastic support all the way.

Let’s make a BIG difference to small babies this World Prematurity Day.

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