PIPA (Preterm Infant's Parent's Association)

PIPA (Preterm Infant's Parent's Association) P**A is a charity which provides support to parents and families who experience premature births.

It is registered with the Australian Charities and Not-for Profits Commission as a charity and Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR)

23/08/2026

Just in case you didn't see this story on Channel Nine early in the week. Baby born at the RBWH believed to be Australia's most premature baby to survive. The story created a lot of interest and discussion. Queensland Health updated their Maternity and Neonatal Guideline "Perinatal care of the extremely preterm baby" in February 2026. If you want the most update information on 22 week plus babies have a read of the new Consumer Information Sheet "Babies born extremely early"https://www.health.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0025/1007935/c-xtreme-preterm.pdf

Was your prem born between 22 to 25 weeks gestation? Can you help with this important survey?The Perinatal Epidemiology ...
23/08/2026

Was your prem born between 22 to 25 weeks gestation? Can you help with this important survey?
The Perinatal Epidemiology Group at The University of Melbourne, which includes obstetricians, midwives and pregnancy researchers is undertaking a research project to examine the outcomes (both risks and benefits) following caesarean compared with vaginal birth for mums and babies at very early gestational age – 22 to 25 weeks. This is a much under-researched area and despite becoming an increasingly common scenario in clinical practice, very little is understood about the impact of mode of birth at this gestation. The survey is designed to better understand what matters most to parents and families facing the possibility of having a baby born extremely early (before 25+6 weeks). It aims to gather your views, experiences, and priorities—especially around the information and support you need to help make difficult decisions about your care and how your baby will be delivered. By listening directly to families, the survey will help ensure that our broader research focuses on the questions and outcomes that are most important to you, ultimately helping improve how clinicians communicate and support parents and their babies’ during these challenging situations. Survey URL here: https://redcap.link/oxst6itx
Further information contact : [email protected], P +61432544100
Epidemiology Group | Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology , Mercy Hospital for Women

Thank you Peek-a-boo ICU for these amazing words which describe the different road to motherhood for mums of prems.
17/08/2026

Thank you Peek-a-boo ICU for these amazing words which describe the different road to motherhood for mums of prems.

As mentioned in a previous post 2026 World Breastfeeding Week focuses on strengthening what works and Kangaroo Mother Ca...
07/08/2026

As mentioned in a previous post 2026 World Breastfeeding Week focuses on strengthening what works and Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) works. KMC is an evidence-based model of care for preterm and low-birthweight babies. It involves early, continuous, and prolonged skin-to-skin contact between a parent and baby, along with support for breastfeeding. In practice, this means holding your baby skin-to-skin on your chest as early as possible, for as long as possible, and as often as possible – ideally, 8–24 hours each day. Every hour of skin-to-skin contact matters!
Although it may look simple, KMC has powerful, proven effects on both you and your baby.
KMC promotes breast milk production: When your baby lies on your chest, your body releases hormones, such as oxytocin. This helps your milk “come in” and maintains a steady milk supply. Studies show that KMC can improve breastfeeding success and help mothers breastfeed for longer.
KMC supports your baby’s feeding instincts: Your smell, warmth, and heartbeat are signals that naturally trigger instincts such as rooting and searching for the breast.
KMC helps stabilize your NICU baby: In the NICU, KMC helps babies stay warm, calm, and stable. This allows them to use their energy for growth, development, and learning to feed, instead of struggling to regulate their body functions.
KMC strengthens bonding: Skin-to-skin contact reduces stress for both you and your baby and helps you bond, even in a challenging environment like the NICU. This close bond can also support breastfeeding.
All of this is especially important for babies born too soon or sick.
Many of them are not yet able to coordinate sucking, swallowing, and breathing. KMC helps babies stay calm and physiologically stable, which supports the development of feeding readiness and helps prepare them for breastfeeding.
By supporting breastfeeding, promoting feeding readiness, and keeping families together, KMC helps give babies the best possible start in life.
Sometimes, what works best is simply keeping parents and babies together.

Why are peer support groups, like P**A, important during your journey through the neonatal nurseries? Because they can: ...
04/08/2026

Why are peer support groups, like P**A, important during your journey through the neonatal nurseries? Because they can: -
* Normalise complex emotions
* Share lived experience
* Encourage confidence and connection beyond the neonatal nurseries

P**A meets with prem parents at Ronald McDonald House Herston and South Brisbane on a monthly basis.Herston House 1st We...
02/08/2026

P**A meets with prem parents at Ronald McDonald House Herston and South Brisbane on a monthly basis.
Herston House 1st Wednesday of the month from 1.30 pm. Next visit 5 August.
South Brisbane House last Friday of the month from 12.30 pm. Next visit 28 August.
All parents with a baby in the neonatal nurseries are invited to attend. You don't need to be staying at Ronald McDonald House. Just let reception know you are there for the P**A meeting.
P**A supports and recommends the Premmies Play and Learn playgroup at Browns Plains Early Years Centre Middle Road Hillcrest. This group is run by the Benevolent Society and operates each Friday during the school term from 9.00 am. Call 3386 9000 for more information

World Breastfeeding Week 2026 takes place from 1 to 7 August 2026. World Alliance for Breast Feeding Action (WABA) theme...
02/08/2026

World Breastfeeding Week 2026 takes place from 1 to 7 August 2026. World Alliance for Breast Feeding Action (WABA) theme for 2026 focuses on "Breastfeeding for a sustainable start in life: Strengthen what works." The campaign highlights nutrition, food security, and building stronger community and workplace support systems for families. P**A partners with the Global Foundation for the Care of Newborn Infants () and has joined its independent awareness campaign to “Protect and Promote Breastfeeding for the Best Start in Life.” In line with WABA’s 2026 motto, “Breastfeeding for a Sustainable Start in Life: Strengthen What Works,” the campaign highlights Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) as one of the most effective, evidence-based practices to achieve this goal. By keeping parents and babies together through early, continuous, and prolonged skin-to-skin contact, KMC supports breastfeeding, promotes physiological stability, strengthens family involvement, and improves outcomes for preterm, low-birthweight, and sick newborns.
Note: Although P**A promotes breastfeeding there should be no stigma attached to women who cannot breastfeed or chose not to.
Is A Journey

We have all had people/friends/family say the wrong thing to us when our baby is in the neonatal nursery. Yes, they do s...
01/08/2026

We have all had people/friends/family say the wrong thing to us when our baby is in the neonatal nursery. Yes, they do sting. Yes, they can hurt. And we do remember them. We must also remember that the comments probably come from a good place but from a person who has no idea what it feels like to have a premature baby and no awareness of the challenges parents and premature babies face.

Just in case you have not seen this story of the Brisbane mum who gave birth to 4 daughters (identical quadruplets)
22/07/2026

Just in case you have not seen this story of the Brisbane mum who gave birth to 4 daughters (identical quadruplets)

This July P**A has been helping parents for 46 years. P**A is Queensland’s only prem parent peer support group and the l...
19/07/2026

This July P**A has been helping parents for 46 years. P**A is Queensland’s only prem parent peer support group and the longest surviving group of its kind in Australia.
P**A was formed at the Mater Mothers Hospital in Brisbane in July 1980 to try to offer whatever help is needed to families of premature babies. Today it continues its long tradition of offering friendship and support to parents across Queensland and beyond.
I have put together some old photos of P**A’s get togethers and events over the years. Do you recognise your prem in any the photos? What are they up to now?
Thank you for all your support over the years.

Address

Brisbane, QLD
4029

Telephone

+611300773672

Website

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