Premature baby gowns
My name is Karen. My partner Allan and I have seven children aged between two and eleven years old. I am a full time stay-at-home mother, but before our first son was born I was working as an enrolled nurse which is something I hope to return to when our youngest child goes to school.
Our sixth child Ethan who has just turned four was delivered at 33 weeks via caesarean. A scan showed an increase in the blood flow to his brain. The doctors were concerned as this can indicate anaemia and as I have anti-d antibodies it was decided it would be safer for him to enter the world early. He spent one month in the hospital after he was born with minimal breathing problems, only needing CPAP. He did spend a few days under the phototherapy lights due to the rhesus disease but thankfully he didn't need any transfusions. We did have an NEC scare but thankfully it turned out to be only a scare. NEC is a gastro-intestinal disease where the intestinal tissue starts to die.
Ethan's first outfit was a little yellow gown with flowers on it. At the time he was still quite yellow from jaundice and to top it off he was also in a yellow knitted jumper and hat. The nurses, who were really sorry about having to put him in a girly yellow outfit, told me about the lack of nice boy gowns in the unit. As I was leaving that day I asked one of the staff for a pattern and had full intentions of making Ethan some gowns for his hospital stay. I was being a bit ambitious thinking I would have time with traveling to see him, expressing breast milk for him and also the day to day running of the house. Five other kids make for a lot of work and even with Allan home doing all he could I just never had the time nor the energy to get any gowns sewn for Ethan. So once he came home and we settled into our lives and routines with a new baby, I started to sew gowns for the hospital instead.
After I started making them for the hospital I received a request from a friend who knew someone with a newborn premature baby. She asked me if I would mind sewing some for her friend and I happily agreed. Word slowly got around and soon enough I was getting requests from total strangers.
Once I started getting the requests it was clear there was a need for it. At that point in people’s lives finances can be tight with all the extras you need to pay for when you are spending all day every day at the hospital. I decided that if I am able to make and donate gowns to families and I can make what may be a horrible day that much brighter then I should be doing it. Since I started I have met many wonderful people and have since branched out to bereavement gowns as well. I have had people request gowns for their babies who were born far too soon and have passed away. The gowns I make for premature babies really aren't appropriate for little angels so I searched around for a suitable pattern. I had to apply for permission to use the pattern I use as it is only specifically for hospital use. Thankfully I was approved based on what I was already doing and my affiliations with hospitals in my area. It has been a true privilege and blessing to be asked to make something that will be a very special memory for families in the future.
Before Ethan was born I had barely sewn a thing. It wasn't until after his birth that the sewing machine really started to get used. I had only made a couple of wraps before his birth! When we found out we were expecting our seventh child and we knew she would be an early arrival as well, I got to work early and she was well catered for in the clothing department while in hospital!
I believe I have now sewn for 20-30 hospitals. When I first started I wasn't keeping track of who I sent to as I do now. I have donated over 1300 gowns to families and hospitals. This Christmas I have eleven hospitals on my list to send Christmas gowns to. I have not donated to these hospitals before so it should be a wonderful surprise for the staff and families.
Find Karen Cuthbert on Facebook, or leave a message for her on the Essential Baby forums.
