Here’s what neonatal charity First Touch are doing to make Mother’s Day brighter for the mums of babies in hospital…
Mother’s Day can be hard for mums with children in hospital, and 2020 will be the hardest for many years due to the COVID-19 prevention measures. With necessary visiting restrictions in place at the neonatal unit meaning that only the mums and dads can visit their babies – no siblings, grandparents, or wider family members – neonatal charity First Touch is trying to make the day brighter for mums.
Thanks to the kindness of charity supporters, First Touch is able to mark the day with gifts to each of the forty mums in the neonatal nurseries.
A mother with her baby in the neonatal nursery at St George’s Hospital
All mums will receive a copy of the book ‘I Love My Mummy’ by Giles Andreae and Emma Dodd which is a beautiful gift to keep and will give mums the chance to enjoy bonding time with their babies as they read the book to them. Louise Williams of First Touch says; ‘We encourage families to read to their baby sons and daughters, as babies love to hear familiar voices. ‘I Love My Mummy’ is a gorgeous book with a beautiful, loving message to mummies on their special day. It’s important to mark Mother’s Day for all mums, in hospital or at home. Mums matter very much.’
Mummies will also be bought hand creams, hearts and chocolates in baskets which have been individually hand crocheted by charity supporters. Particular thanks to city firm Lunson Mitchenall, to St Matthew’s Church toddler group in Raynes Park and to online crafters Handmade With Love – Blankets For Preemies for funding these gifts.
First Touch teddy bear
The wonderful neonatal nursery nurses are also going above and beyond their usual work by creating hand made cards from each baby to their mummy.
First Touch is the charity supporting the neonatal unit at St George’s Hospital in Tooting. The unit cares for 600 sick and premature babies each year. We raise funds to purchase vital neonatal medical equipment, to facilitate specialist nurse training and to provide various welfare schemes for families to make their stay at the unit a little less stressful. Welfare includes providing accommodation, snacks and drinks in the family rooms, keep cups for mums so they remain hydrated, welcome bags, journey boxes, breast pumps to use at home, paying for travel for families in need, providing a bag of games, books and activities for all siblings, and organising an annual Christmas party for all ‘graduates’ and their families. We also fund an annual memorial service and memory boxes for all bereaved parents. With just two part time staff members and minimal overheads the funds raised by First Touch go to help every baby at the neonatal nurseries and give them the best chance of a bright future.
First Touch snack stand in the family room at St George’s Hospital
We are currently working to ensure families are provided with food and accommodation during these uncertain months as St George’s Hospital staff fight the corona virus. We would also like to provide snacks, hot food and drinks for the frontline nurses and doctors who staff the neonatal unit 24 hours each day, and for whom getting to the shops is difficult. If you’d like to help our work please visit Just Giving to make a donation: www.justgiving.com/campaign/support4stgeorgesnnu
First Touch will give all mums in the neonatal nurseries a copy of the book ‘I Love My Mummy’
‘I Love My Mummy’ by Giles Andreae and Emma Dodd is available to purchase from Amazon here >
Contributor: First Touch
First Touch is a charity based at the neonatal unit at St George’s Hospital in Tooting, London, supporting the unit’s sick and premature babies, families & nursing staff.
Twitter: @FirstTouchNNU
Facebook: @FirstTouchNNU
Website: first-touch.org.uk
Registered Charity: 1072500
