A Book Helping Parents Connect with their Premature or Sick Babies

Welcoming a new baby is supposed to be an exciting time, but for families of premature or sick babies it can be heart-wrenching.

Jett Stenmark was born at 27 weeks, more than three months premature and spent 90 days in the NICU (neo natal intensive care unit) .

Jett had a hole in his heart, needed prolonged breathing support, was fed milk by a tube, had digestion issues, his lung had collapsed and he needed urgent laser surgery when they noticed his retina starting to detach.

His parents Nick and Hannah, were encouraged to read to Jett in the incubator, to help bond and support his brain development.

NICU parents Nick and Hannah were encouraged to read to Jett in the incubator, to help bond and support his brain development.

They longed for a book that recognised the confronting reality of having a premature or sick baby, and would offer hope and strength in such a difficult time. So they wrote Your Little Head Start.

Over the next year, each family whose baby is cared for in the Royal North Shore Hospital NICU will be gifted a copy of Hannah and Nick’s book to support them on their journey.

Listen to the full conversation with Hannah and Nick Stenmark in the player above.

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And shoutout to the special NICU mums and dads who fight for their babies and never give up! You are strong, remarkable and resilient. And to the nurses and doctors that have saved countless bubbas and given them quality of life – you’re incredible!