THE ladies from QCWA Rosewood devote a lot of time making toys and other items of comfort for children and babies.
Last year they handed over armfuls of knitted trauma teddies to paramedics at Rosewood Ambulance Station.
The bears are handed to children involved in emergencies.
Their mission aligns with sister group Beechmountain CWA.
That group is headed by president, Kim Crow.
Kim was inspired to make incubator covers and development hearts when her daughter gave birth at 24 weeks gestation.
Her granddaughter Betty Louise Adams was born six weeks early.
She weighed just 670 grams and was 31cm long.
She was welcomed into the world by dad Jack, mum Emma and big brother Owen.
“Betty has been through more medical procedures, blood transfusions, IV needles, feeding and breathing support than most adults we know.” Emma said.
“Throughout it all she has shown us that despite being small she is strong willed, sassy and determined to do things in her own way and time.
“We are so proud of her and so thankful that she is doing well now.”
Going into labour at 24 weeks, meant the rest of a baby’s development has to take place outside of the womb and in carefully controlled environments.
Neo Natal Intensive Care Units (NICU) give premmies their best chance to catch up and develop to a point where they thrive on their own.
“We are also so thankful for the medical teams that have taken care of her and us throughout this journey,” she said.
“They explained complicated medical procedures in terms we could understand, held us when we cried.
“This allowed us to be involved in caring for her in a medically acute environment in our parental roles.”
Also by Emma’s side was mum Kim, when she saw a need for incubator covers and development hearts, she rallied the troops at Beechmountain CWA.
“The covers look similar to ones you put over budgie cages, they keep the light out,” Kim said.
“They are made in beautifully patterned material and have panels that can be lifted up to care for the baby.
“While they have some covers, they never have enough.
“We’ll keep making them over the next year or two, so they’ll have a decent supply.”
There are a few different types of incubators and cots, covers are made specifically for them.
Also being made are development hearts, little heart shaped material cushions parents with babies in NICU put close to their skin to add their scent to it.
These are then placed in the incubator with the baby so it can smell its parents and bring comfort.
“I have made lots of those and my daughter’s had some, but we have also given them to the hospital,” she said.
“At the Mater [hospital] every parent gets offered some.”
