Earlybirds chats to mum Rana Chuon
Joseph (left) and Ruby.
1. How old were your babies when they were born and what did they weigh? How old are they now and what do they weigh?
Ruby was born in late October 2015 at 28+1 weeks and weighed just 1.179 kilos, she spent 56 days in the NICU/SCN at Monash Newborn Services. She is now 5 years old and now weighs just over 15 kilos.
Joseph was born in late November 2018 at 33+3 weeks and weighed 2.102 kilos, he spent 23 days in the NICU/SCN at Monash Children’s Hospital. He is now 2 years old and now weighs just over 11 kilos.
2. What is the one thing you wish someone had told you before your babies was born?
Try and enjoy every moment of the parenthood journey and never take life for granted.
3. Did your babies spend time in NICU? What was the most challenging part of NICU?
Both of my babies spent some time in the NICU, the most challenging part of the NICU journey was watching these tiny warriors battle with all the medical equipment that had to be used on them; from being attached to heart monitors and wires through, to the CPAP and breathing tubes. Hearing the sounds of the breathing monitors go off also always made my heart skip a beat!
4. What was your most exciting ‘premmie first’? E.g. the first time you were able to hold them, bringing them home from NICU etc.
My most exciting premmie first was being able to hold our little Ruby and Joseph for the first time, I remember crying my eyes out on both occasions! Another momentous moment occurred when both Ruby and Joseph were able to “graduate” from incubator to an open cot, it meant that we were that one step closer to coming home! Another memorable moment was being able to dress our Ruby in her first Earlybirds outfit we received as a gift!
5. What was your babies’ first word?
Ruby’s first word was “Dad-Dad-Dad-Dad”
Joesph’s first word was “Rubyyyyy”
6. What is their favourite toy at the moment?
Ruby has a Trolls obsession at the moment, we have all the characters scattered all over the house from “Poppy”, to “Branch” through to “Barb” and “Guy Diamond”!
Joseph, however, has a car obsession, we have Matchbox cars of all different models, our house is scattered full of cars, everywhere!
5. What is a funny moment you’ve had with your babies?
Our funny moments occur on a daily basis, especially when we’re playing hide and seek and everyone forgets who is counting and who is hiding.
6. What advice would you give to first-time parents of a sick or premmie baby?
Don’t be afraid to ask questions and make sure to connect with other premmie parents, it really helps to know you’re not alone! Premmie babies are a lot stronger than you think, so try not to worry too much, but if you do find yourself in a dark place, make sure to talk someone about it!
7. What does parenthood mean to you?
This quote sums it up: “Being a parent is learning about the strengths you didn’t know you had…and dealing with the fears you didn’t know existed” Being a parent has it’s challenges, but it is also so rewarding at the same time and I wouldn’t want it any other way!
8. What is some of the more memorable support you received from families/friends/health workers?
During our both our NICU journeys, the staff at Monash Newborn and Monash Children’s Hospital have been fantastic, to say the least, from assisting us with our first nappy changes, through to the countless kangaroo cuddles we’ve had with our babies. Thank you to all the staff for taking such good care of our babies!
9. What are the best things to say or to avoid saying when supporting premmie parents. Could you give an example?
Please don’t ask us why our babies are so small!
10. Could you tell us a favourite moment with your babies?
My most favourite moment with both of my children would definitely be the first time that we ever got to kangaroo cuddle both our babies, I cried my eyes out on both occasions (happy tears of course).