Prem Baby Coffee or Support groups?
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Category: Have A Baby?
Forum Name: First baby? Second or more?
Forum Description: Want help? Need support? Want tips? Men and women share advice and tips in this supportive community
URL: https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=20649
Printed Date: 12 September 2025 at 6:27am
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Topic: Prem Baby Coffee or Support groups?
Posted By: Bubz
Subject: Prem Baby Coffee or Support groups?
Date Posted: 04 September 2008 at 9:09am
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Hi, My wee one is coming up to 9 months now but thought it might be nice to try and find some other bubbas locally that she could interact with now that summer is coming and because baby has spent so much time indoors due to either being early and then winter. Anyone know where i can even begin looking - I cant seem to find anything through google? Live in the howick / Pakuranga / Botany suburb of Auckland. Thanks! |
Replies:
Posted By: susieq
Date Posted: 04 September 2008 at 1:21pm
| There is a really great playgroup up at the anglican church In Howick on a Tuesday and a Thursday morning |
Posted By: Troods
Date Posted: 04 September 2008 at 8:21pm
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I think a prem baby coffee group would be an excellent idea. I live in Papakura. Are there any other parents of prem bubs in the East and South Auckland areas who might be interested in getting together? I do have a coffee group with people from antenatal class but being the only parents of a prem makes you feel just a little left out sometimes when the other bubs are within the "normal" range. Don't get me wrong, my coffee group mates are great, but it might be nice to meet up with other parents of prem babies to chat and compare our experiences etc. ------------- 
 Missed MC July 2011
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Posted By: KH25
Date Posted: 04 September 2008 at 8:44pm
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Yeah I wish there had been something when we were living in Auckland. Did either if you keep in touch with any of the other mums from NICU? I am really good friends with one from when we were there - her son is 10 days younger than Ashleigh and was also born at 26 weeks so it's great to have someone else in the same boat as me. We catch up all the time! ------------- Kelly, mum to DD, 19Jun06 (26wks 1lb15oz) DS1, 24Oct10 (32wks 4lb11oz) and DS2, 31Dec11 (32wks, 4lb11) http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: Troods
Date Posted: 04 September 2008 at 9:03pm
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No unfortunately didn't keep in touch with the other mums from nicu. there is another mum here in papakura with a girl about the same age as Em and they were in the same room at nicu, but as yet we haven't caught up. I'm hoping to try and catch up with her now that winter is on its way out and the weather is getting a bit warmer. -------------
Missed MC July 2011
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Posted By: mum2paris
Date Posted: 04 September 2008 at 11:54pm
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I know there is a wonderful one here in palmy - unfortunately that doesn't actualy help you. Wellington also has a great one. Most likely often it needs to take a wonderful mum to take the lead and get one running... that's what happened with our one here in palmy, the mum of an ex-24 weeker started it and they have been able to secure a time once a week at our local plunket family centre. we have flyers up in the nnu and she got it promoted through the paper too... here's a link to the newspaper article. http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/eveningstandard/4603721a6502.html - newspaper article
Maybe one of you might like to start one? - am sure if you did it would help heaps and i dare say shouldn't cost too much, maybe a few flyers printed and talk to the NICU in auckland - they'd probably be happy to help get word out as these kinds of groups are very valuable to the mums both in the unit and after they leave. And maybe see if there is a plunket family centre that is able to help you out in terms of lending their rooms once a week for a couple of hours. Alot of our mums from the unit have found it gives them at least something once a week to go to and get out of the unit for an hour or so to get away from it all and they like that they can share stories with other mums and see other ex-premmies who are now all big and chubby and healthy.. it gives them hope. Anyway, hope you find one or that maybe someone wonderful starts one in your area soon?  ------------- Janine and her 2 cool chicks, Paris & Ayja 
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Posted By: Bubz
Date Posted: 10 September 2008 at 2:07pm
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I didn't manage to keep in touch with either of the mums I was close to in NICU. One lived much too far away and we both didn't have cars, and the other's twins passed unfortunately shortly after we were discharged.
A friend of mine is seeing a lady from this PAFT Programme who suggested baby and I interact with other prem babies so I'm not comparing her to "normal babies" even though according to the neurodevelopment specialist that see's us - she's developing at a normal rate. I think I'm slowly developing a mindset that friends don't really understand why 9 months down the track i'm still really upset about the emergency c-section, not being able to see my baby for a day etc etc and I'd like bubba to make some friends of a similar age rather than interacting with a younger baby that's behind her development all the time. I might as the NICU doc. when i see her next and let you know what i find out. |
Posted By: babyg
Date Posted: 10 September 2008 at 8:14pm
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I do know how you feel in terms of mums of fullterm bubs not understanding the anguish you've gone through and the longterm affect a prem arrival has on you. My girl wasn't too prem, born 33wks, but my AN group wouldn't be able to understand why I'm still not over the heartache.
Living in a small town, I am really lucky in that the group of mums who were in NNU together have remained really close and we all catch up from time to time. It must be really difficult being in Auckland and so far from the people you made connections with while in care. I hope you all find the support and connections that you would love to have, lots of luck - take care  ------------- Ev, Mum to: Carys Ruby - 4 October 2007 Spencer James - 2 July 2010 |
Posted By: kiwigal
Date Posted: 10 September 2008 at 8:23pm
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This baby is going to be born next Tuesday at 35w 5d because of my complications I have had in the past as my son was also 4 weeks prem. It will be nice to meet up with other mothers and talk about our experiences about raising a prem baby I live in Manurewa. |
Posted By: babyg
Date Posted: 10 September 2008 at 8:28pm
Good luck kiwigal - not even a week to go ------------- Ev, Mum to: Carys Ruby - 4 October 2007 Spencer James - 2 July 2010 |
Posted By: bext1
Date Posted: 22 October 2008 at 1:27pm
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Hi all,
Parentcare run a premmie baby playgroup at Auckland Hospital I think it's 3 times a month? and also one a month at waitakere hospital, I am thinking of taking the boys soon, as they play according to their 'corrected age'.  ------------- 
http://lilypie.com"> 
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