Neonatal babies enjoy first Christmas party

Your child’s first Christmas is always a special occasion but some families have more reason than most to be grateful.

That was certainly the case for those who attended this year’s Singleton Hospital’s neonatal Christmas party.

Arranged by Swansea Bay’s neonatal outreach team, a special invite goes out to babies and their parents who have been through the hospital’s neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) during the past 12 months.

This year’s party was held in the communal hall in Singleton’s staff accommodate, a rattle throw away from the hospital’s Cwtsh Clos homes for families who live far away from the unit.

Lead neonatal outreach nurse, Sarah Owens, said: “We’ve been holding a Christmas party for the families for around 15 years. 

“We invite all the families who have had outreach care, so all of these babies have been discharged home from the neonatal unit over the past year. 

“It’s an opportunity to bring everybody together and celebrate how far the babies have come in the past year, because it’s been a really tough year for most of them.

“It’s lovely for us all to get together and be joyous.

“A special thanks goes out to our nursery nurse, Cheryl Tobin, without who this would not be possible. Cheryl gives up her own time to buy gifts for the babies and wraps each and every one herself. Her commitment to this event and the regular coffee mornings she supports every month for our neonatal families is greatly appreciated by her neonatal team and our families.” 

Sarah said the party gave the families a unique opportunity.

She said: “All of these babies have been through NICU this year and may have had some extra care needs that they have gone home with that we have supported them with over the year.

“This is a place where they feel comfortable to come along to, most of them have had similar experiences. They can just enjoy each other’s company and support each other, relax and catch up.”

This year’s special guest knows better than anyone what it’s like having a baby in NICU and treating them.

As Santa is very busy at the moment overseeing his team of elves, he asked Dr Sam Jeffreys to step in for him at the party.

Sarah explained: “Santa is played by Dr Jeffreys who has also had premature babies and experienced the journey of the neonatal unit, not only as a parent but as a doctor.

“The past three years he has come with his own children but today he is here playing Santa because his children are older and in nursery.”

Sam (pictured playing Santa), who is currently a paediatric trainee doctor in Morriston Hospital, said: “I’ve got two children both of whom were premature and stayed in NICU in Singleton, but also I’ve worked on the unit myself. 

“Today, I’m here to have the honour of being Santa.”

Sam has a son, George (born at 23 weeks), who has just turned 4, and a daughter, Emilia (born 24 weeks), who has just turned two, and they are both doing “wonderfully fine”.

Sam is fully behind the parties.

He said: “Having had premature babies, other playgroups and parents can be a bit daunting so to come to a place like this, where you have parents and children from a similar background – it’s good to have that shared bond and experience.”

He is also full of praise for the NICU staff.

He said: 'I am biased as I have worked there as well, but the staff are superstars, every one of them.

“They don't just look after the babies. They are brilliant with the parents too. The care they gave to my children, my wife and I was second to none.  

“My children wouldn’t be here without them.”

Laura and Matthew Jones were there with son, Aidan, who was born at 28 weeks via emergency C-section in Princess of Wales Hospital in Bridgend before been transferred to NICU in Singleton.

Laura said: “The care was outstanding. We can’t thank them enough. He was there for 52 days. The staff were really helpful, they were knowledgeable they would give you advice if sought.”

Laura also gave her backing to the Christmas party tradition.

She said: “This is a really good idea. You meet parents on the unit and then you don’t see them again, so it’s nice to come to events like this as you do get to see them again.

“It’s a good supporting network. It’s nice to see other people who have been in your situation and chat about it to each other. Unless you are in that situation you don’t understand.”

Matthew Jones (right with Aidan) added: “The staff have been fantastic to be honest with you. They’re very friendly, they’ve answered every question and they’ve kept us updated.”

Mr Jones was particularly impressed with an app staff use to update parents.

He explained: “We weren’t always there but the mornings we weren’t there to wake up and see him we were getting pictures sent to the app they use – we were getting good morning wishes and a pic of our baby. That was a really good touch.

“Laura wasn’t well enough to come to the hospital but she was able to see updated pictures of Aidan.”

NICU consultant, Kate Burke, said: “It’s massively important for the families to have these opportunities to come together and to celebrate milestones, which for some of them they might not ever thought they were going to meet. 

“It’s an opportunity to come together to celebrate, to share stories, to see the staff, and some of those who were on the unit at the same time.

“To celebrate overcoming the end of an often very difficult year for some families.”
She added that staff looked forward to the event.

She said: “As staff we have very close relationship with the families who stay on our unit – we often have real shared histories with them and we’re interested in how they progress after they leave, the party is always a lovely opportunity for everyone to come together, staff, to come together and see how all the families and their babies are getting on.”