MOMENTS before hosting a festive party for newborns in the Ulster Hospital, a neonatal nurse has spoken of the joy of caring for new arrivals on Christmas day.
Cathy Ervine (38) from east Belfast has worked in her chosen specialty for 17 years.
Speaking to The Irish News on Friday, she said there was no less than 12 babies under her care.
Working on Christmas day, colleagues share out shorter shifts while also helping to make a family atmosphere for new families unable to be at home.
“We make little My first Christmas cards for the parents using their baby’s footprints,” she said.
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The neonatal unit’s ‘Christmas do’ on Friday also featured an appearance from Santa, allowing siblings the chance to join in the fun.
“We’d love all babies to be at home for Christmas, but some of them are born too early and need to stay in for potentially weeks or months,” she said.
“So we try to make it as nice an atmosphere for the families as possible even thought they don’t want to spend Christmas in hospital.
“We make sure their little baby has a stocking and give the parents support.”
“I studied children’s nursing at university and started out working in the neonatal unit and just loved it,” said Cathy.
“It’s really important to look after the babies, but also the parents as well.”
For any expectant mothers due in the hospital in the coming days, she said: “We are very family centered, so I would say we want the parents there doing as much as they can in terms of things like nappy changes.
“Being involved in the ward round and decision making, so they are involved in every aspect of their baby’s care.”
After nearly 20 years in the job, she said among her happiest memories are when babies with a challenging start in life come back to visit.
“Maybe a year or two later you see a little toddler running around when you first saw them as a really tiny and sick premature baby.
“It’s amazing, seeing how well they’re doing and that the family still remember you.
“We really do try to go above and beyond for the families, especially when it’s on special occasions like Christmas.”
