I had a questionnaire through this week from the University of Leicester. My son Cole is part of a study into the effects of giving ani-biotics to women who's waters have broken before they've reached their full pregnancy term. I'm so lucky that Cole is healthy, happy and carefree, so it was a pleasure completing the questionnaire and telling them this.
In fact, I can barely remember signing up for the trial becuase, at the time, everything seemed so confusing and scary. My waters broke at 35 weeks but I didn't go into established labour for another 6 days. Those 6 days spent on the Obstectrics ward were the longest of my life; strapped to a monitor all day half hoping the baby would stay in longer, half hoping not so that it could all be over with. I opted to take the anti-biotics because it seemed the safest thing to do for my baby, and thankfullly he was ok. I me so many courageous women that week who were either in for total bed rest, had pre term broken waters or who had very preemie babies.
I remember going to the preemie unit with one of the friends I'd made there and seeing just how tiny the babies were in their little plastic boxes, tubes and machines keeping them warm and fed. I also remember how difficult it was to find clothes that fitted them, even those who were ready to be taken home.
Completing the questionnaire brought it all back to me 7 years later. I've decided that there are some really simple things I can do to help those mothers of premature babies. There are some wonderful charities out there aimed especially at helping these tiny tots:
I've got lots of links to free knitting patterns on my website, including free baby knitting patterns , and I've just added a number of preemie baby knitting patterns. They're free to download and I've included pictures for all of them:
preemie cap knitting pattern:
http://www.blissedoutknitting.com/preemie_cap_knitting_pattern.htm
More preemie knitting patterns: 
http://www.blissedoutknitting.com/free_knitting_patterns_free_preemie_knitting_patterns.htm
I was lucky. Cole was born 6 pounds 0 ounces and was able to feed without assistance. I met lots of other new mothers who had to watch their babies through plastic cases and could only hold their babies for short periods of time. I am so thankful that I didn't have to endure this, like many of the parents taking part in the University study all these years later. http://www.prematurity.org/baby/index.html has some excellent advice on all aspects of premature baby care and I will be knitting some preemie baby clothes to donate to my local hospital.
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