Join in the fun of Mater Little Miracles Cake Smash!

Did you know that the World Health Organisation estimates that 15 million babies around the world are born prematurely each year – that’s more than 1 in 10!

Mater Little Miracles Cake Smash is a new campaign aimed at raising $25,000 to help more than 2000 premature and seriously ill babies cared for at Mater Mothers’ Hospitals. Mater’s Neonatal Critical Care Unit in South Brisbane is one of the biggest in Australia – helping to give Queensland’s tiniest patients the best possible start in life.

Brisbane mum and Mums Lounge reader, Kat Simmonds recounts her personal experience at Mater when her son was born prematurely.

Ezekial was born on the 4^th December 2007 at 32 weeks gestation, via an emergency c-section at Mater Mothers’ Hospital Brisbane. He was born weighing 1452g or 3lb 1 oz, and 41cm long.

For the first 56hrs after he was born we were in separate hospitals due to complications. The staff at Mater rang me every 2-3hrs during the day to give me updates on him as well as taking some photos for me to see him. He spent 36hrs on a ventilator and then 1 day on cpap. They let my parents and then partner and his parents in to have kangaroo cuddles with Ezekial since I was unable to. They sent lactation consultants to me to help me attempt expressing.

All of the staff at Mater were fantastic. I couldn’t fault them in any way. We felt so lucky to have such a great team of doctors and nurses looking after Ezekial. The doctor who was looking after me during the day even came to see me when I was finally able to go back to Mater Mothers’ Hospital on the third day after his birth. She explained everything that had happened and what they thought may have caused my pre-eclampsia. If I ever had more complications in future pregnancies, I would hope to have staff and care like that again.

Mater Little Miracles Cake Smash– how you can get involved

Everyone can get involved in doing a Cake Smash and help more babies reach their first birthday – and have a smashing time doing it! Here’s how:

• Sign up to do a Cake Smash today, World Prematurity Day, or any day during November.
• Set your fundraising goal
• Ask your friends, family and colleagues to donate to see you smash your cake with your hands or face. Once you reach (or exceed) your target it’s time for the fun to begin!
• SMASH your cake and share your photos and/or video on social media using the hashtag #CakeSmashforMater