The Definition of a miscarriage is birth prior to the 20th week of pregnancy, but usually in the first 12 weeks. One in every four pregnancies result in a miscarriage.

Preterm birth is defined by birth before the 37th week of pregnancy. In 2005, over 8% of births in Australia were preterm or premature. For indigenous women, this rate was 14%.

Stillbirth is the loss of a baby in utero after 20 weeks, prior to or during birth. The baby is born ’still’, showing no signs of life.

The Bonnie Babes Foundation is a non-profit volunteer based charity which is established for the health and well-being of families. Sadly one in every four pregnancies ends in a loss from miscarriage and stillbirth. Over 17,000 babies are born prematurely, many of them often struggling for life.

The Bonnie Babes Foundation helps to save babies lives and counsel families through this extreme hardship. All proceeds the Foundation raises are for vital medical research projects, and for our 24 hour, 7 day per week family counselling services which support families with seriously ill babies and infants with childhood illnesses.

Major Sponsor

Brian Naylor

The Bonnie Babes Foundation acknowledges Brian Naylor’s 15 years contribution as a caring and compassionate patron.

Brian started with the charity when we were first established visiting Intensive Care Units where babies were born prematurely.

Brian was always a passionate supporter of the charity saying “Children are our future and we need to take care of them”

Our heart goes out to Brian’s family and all those who knew this very dignified and caring man. Brian will always be remembered fondly by all the volunteers at the Bonnie Babes Foundation.

Kirribilli House Garden Party - 22nd March 2009

Guests were pampered and waited on while they dined at the Prime Minister’s residence.

Kirribilli House

An exclusive fundraising event was held on 22nd March 2009 at Kirribilli House - the Prime Minister’s residence.

Pride of the Nation

Pride of the Nation needs kids from newborn to 15 years old to be professionally photographed and appear in the Bonnie Babes Annual Book. This exceptional quality coffee table book will be something that each participant will cherish in the years to come. Call 1300 693 686 or visit Pride of the Nation for more information.

An important feature of early pregnancy is the establishment of lines of communication between pregnancy tissues and the lining of the womb. These communication pathways play an important role in ensuring the appropriate development of the placenta and baby. The signals that travel along these communication pathways are substances that are produced by both fetal and maternal cells. These signals include a group of factors known as cytokines.

Recent evidence suggests that an early pregnancy loss may be associated with the failure of these cytokine signals or inappropriate signals being sent. By investigating the involvement of cytokine signals in the establishment of early pregnancy and in early pregnancy loss, it is hoped that it will be possible to provide women with better information about the risk of subsequent loss, to develop diagnostic and predictive tests and possibly to discover a means to prevent recurrent early pregnancy loss.

The Bonnie Babes Foundation is proud to have funded the medical research of many life saving projects in the field of Perinatal medicine. The word `Perinatal’ means `around time of birth’ and indicates that the focus is on the care of pregnant women and their babies, especially those with complicated medical problems. Such problems include miscarriage, high blood pressure associated with pregnancy, preterm labour and delivery, and poor growth of the fetus within the womb.   The Foundation has also funded medical research in the field of stillbirth, neonatal death and complications with either the mother or baby following birth.

As the name suggests, the emphasis on Perinatal Medicine is on providing continuity of care from the diagnosis of the complication through to the birth of the baby and the care of the mother and baby in the postnatal period. Through the Foundation’s fundraising efforts we are hoping to raise substantial funds to really make the difference for healthier mothers and babies.

Our esteemed medical committee and advisors includes:

· Professor Lesley Barclay – Professor and Director Northern Rivers University Department of Rural Health (NSW)

· Associate Professor Fiona Bogossian – University of Queensland

· Dr Lucy Bowyer - Sub-Specialist Maternal Fetal Medicine, Royal Hospital for Women (NSW)

· Associate Professor Leonie Callaway - Head of Royal Brisbane Clinical School, Staff Specialist in Internal and Obstetric Medicine, Royal Brisbane & Women’s Hospital.

· Professor Paul Colditz - Director Perinatal Research Centre, Royal Women’s Hospital, Brisbane

· Dr John Drew – Pediatrician

· Professor Warwick Giles – Senior Staff Specialist & Director of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Royal North Shore Hospital.

· Associate Professor Rajat Gyaneshwar, Clinical Director of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Liverpool Hospital NSW

· Associate Professor Roger Hart – Specialist in Reproductive Medicine and Surgery, Fertility Specialists of Western Australia

· Associate Professor Ross Haslam – Head Neonatal Medicine, Women’s & Children’s Hospital (SA)

· Associate Professor Rosemary Horne, NHMRC Research Fellow, Scientific Director of the Ritchie Centre, Monash Institute of Medical Research

· Dr Len Kliman – Epworth Freemasons Hospital Melbourne

· Professor Ian Macreadie – CSIRO Molecular and Health Technologies (Vic)

· Leah Magliano – Hobart Private Hospital, NUM

· Professor Helen McCutcheon – Head School of Nursing & Midwifery (SA)

· Dr Peter McDougall – Chief of Medicine, Director, Department of Neonatology, The Royal Children’s Hospital

· Meredith McIntyre – Monash University, Senior Lecturer, School of Nursing and Midwifery

· Dr Lisa McKenna – Monash University, Senior Lecturer, School of Nursing and Midwifery

· Dr Karen Mizia – Ultrasound Care

· Professor Jeremy Oats – Director, Gynaecology & CPIU, The Royal Women’s Hospital (Vic)

· Dr C. Andrew Ramsden - Director Newborn Services, Monash Medical Centre

· Professor Karen Simmer - Professor of Newborn Medicine, University of Western Australia

· Dr Anne Sneddon – Director of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The Canberra Hospital

· Dr Brendan Steele - Head of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Sandringham & District Memorial Hospital

· Dr Christine Tippett – Director Maternal Fetal Medicine Unit, Monash Medical Centre

· Dr Stephen Tong - Clinician and Research Scientist, Monash Institute of Medical Research Monash University

· Professor Brian Trudinger – Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Westmead Hospital (NSW)

· Professor Euan Wallace – Clinical Director, Centre for Women’s Health Research, Monash Institute Medical Research

The Bonnie Babes Foundation’s grief counselling services are provided by professionally trained and caring individuals. There are no prerequisites for participating in the counselling course, people from all walks of life complete the course.

The Bonnie Babes Foundation Grief Counselling Certificate training for peer support counsellors is presented over two days and facilitated by Dr Eleonora Cattini, Clinical Psychologist BA, BAppSci, DPsych and Psychologist Betty Chetcuti BBSc (Hons), MEdPsych, MAPS. The course equips peer support counsellors with the ability to listen to and validate effectively the grief of an individual experiencing a pregnancy loss through miscarriage, stillbirth or premature birth.

Grief Counsellors learn strategies to help individuals in their journey through the grief process and counsellors are encouraged to recognise and work within their level of expertise.

Counsellors are offered follow up supervision and support from our honorary psychologists and other experienced counsellors.

If you would like to join our caring team of dedicated counsellors, please contact the Foundation by telephoning  1300 Bonnie (1300 266 643), fax on (03) 9803 2699 or enquiry@bonniebabes.org.au

Grief Counselling Training Courses 2009

The Bonnie Babes Foundation will be running a Grief Counselling Course on

Melbourne Course - 17th and 18th October

at a venue yet to be advised.  If you are interested in participating in this course please contact the Foundation for your registration form.

Hurry places are limited and filling fast!

If you would you like to become a grief counsellor for the Bonnie Babes Foundation? Register now and join this worthy cause.

For information on all courses or for registration forms, please email enquiry@bonniebabes.org.au.

The Bonnie Babes Foundation has funded the purchase of critical medical equipment that is used to help save the lives of babies all over Australia.

Fetal ECG Recorder

The Bonnie Babes Foundation funded the Perinatal Research Centre at the Royal Women’s Hospital Brisbane in supplying a fetal electrocardiogram (ECG) machine.

During the birth process there is a risk that the baby will suffer a shortage of oxygen. The effects of this may range from no ill effects though to death or brain damage if the shortage of oxygen is more severe. It is unlikely that any serious effects of a shortage of oxygen will occur until the heart activity is impaired. Impaired heart function may be detected by analysis of the shape of the ECG.

The Perinatal Research Centre is a world research leader in a new method that directly monitors the oxygen level of the fetus. Combining the ability to measure fetal oxygen levels with the ECG analysis will result in marked improvements in the detection of those fetuses who truly are distressed and at risk of an adverse outcome. Prevention of death or brain damage in the baby during labour is the target of this research and vital equipment.

Intensive Care Incubator Cot

This new model incubator is for intensive care babies requiring constant monitoring and treatment. It opens at both sides for quick and easy access for emergency treatment procedures and has double insulation for more even temperature control.

This incubator can be a very important part of the care of babies in intensive care.

The Foundation is currently raising funds to purchase one such cot for a maternity hospital in Victoria. Our ultimate aim is to purchase even more cots with funds raised in the future.

An oxygen Microblender for the John Flynn Hospital

The Microblender blends air and oxygen together ensuring the preterm infant is receiving an accurate delivery of oxygen for their individual needs. Infants not receiving the correct amount of oxygen can suffer brain damage.

Actigraph Monitor

The Bonnie Babes Foundation has also purchased an Actigraph Mini Motion logger for the research team at Monash University Department of Pediatrics. The Monash team is studying breathing patterns in infants during sleep, particularly those babies born prematurely who are more likely to have unstable breathing.

The Actigraph Monitor, an essential tool for this research, is attached to the baby’s chest and records the activity of the breathing muscles during a night’s sleep. To understand how these breathing patterns develop in early infancy will improve treatment of unstable breathing in premature babies.

Pregnancy Probe

The Bonnie Babes Foundation has funded the purchase of an Ultrasound Probe in a Recurrent Miscarriage service in hospitals to help with the assessment and surveillance of the early weeks of pregnancy in women attending this service. This probe is designed for and dedicated to the needs of this particular recurrent miscarriage clinical service. Such a probe replaces and significantly upgrades the current ultrasound probe in several hospitals for the Recurrent Miscarriage Clinic assessments.

The Bonnie Babes Foundation provides Australia wide, 24-hour 7 day per week free grief counselling services to families who have lost a baby.

The Foundation’s trained counsellors will provide grief counselling for any member of the family or friends grieving after pregnancy loss.

Our counselling services also support families with infertility issues and families who have a baby with an illness or complication following birth.

If you would like to organise to speak with one of the Foundation’s counsellors or for any of our free literature to be sent to you, please telephone 1300 Bonnie (1300 266 643) fax on (03) 9803 2699 or email enquiry@bbf.org.au.

Coping with Pregnancy Loss

The Bonnie Babes Foundation has three free publications:

You Are Part of Our Lives and Will Always Live in our Hearts (PDF, 897kb)

This book contains information that can help families cope in their time of grief. This publication is distributed to GP’s, hospitals, health centres, etc across Australia. If your hospital etc does not have a copy, please contact the Foundation and a copy will be sent.

‘A Dad’s Story’

This book discusses a father’s grief and is available by contacting the Foundation.

‘Talking to children about Grief and Loss’

This book discusses ways to explain to your child grief and loss and is also available by contacting the Foundation.

Grief counselling support group - Werribee, VIC

On the 1st Thursday of each month there will be a counselling support group held at:
Salvation Army Church Hall, 211 Watton St, Werribee, VIC. 3030.
This support group will be facilitated by one of the Bonnie Babes Foundation’s volunteer grief counsellors, Kerry Batstone. The sessions will run between 1:30-2:30pm. The Hall’s contact number is 9741 7359. For any queries you can contact the Bonnie Babes Foundation on 03 9803 1800 or by email at enquiry@bbf.org.au.

Support Group - Brisbane

The Bonnie Babes Foundation now has a Brisbane Support Group. The meetings will be held on the first Tuesday of each month from 7pm-9pm at Kedron-Wavell Community Centre. For further information or for our telephone counselling services within Queensland please contact Barb on (07) 3353 6285.

Support Group - Gold Coast

A Gold Coast self-help support group is held on the last Thursday of every month. This support group consists of families who have lost a baby at various stages of pregnancy, so everyone is welcome. For information, ring Debbie on 07 5598 1147.

Support Group Gladstone - Queensland

Gladstone Support Group is a new gathering in Gladstone. This group welcomes any families who have lost a baby at various stages of pregnancy. For details of meetings please contact Susan Townsend on (07) 4978 1640 or for more information.

It’s National Babies Day

Saturday, September 19th 2009

National Babies Day is about remembering the babies who passed away too soon and celebrating the lives of healthy babies across Australia. National Babies Day raises much needed funds to help decrease the loss of children every year in Australia and provide a better quality of life for babies born prematurely struggling for survival in intensive care.

Events are being conducted across Australia during September to raise funds for the Bonnie Babes Foundation.

Check out the Shoot For Life Fundraiser in the Hunter Valley, and Fitzy’s Loganholme Babies and Children Expo Fun Day!!

Why not get active, become involved and hold an event of your own? Bake sales, Mum and Bubs fundraiser parties, Fancy Dress day at work, or even get the girls together for a spot of shopping at Target on September 19th - involve your friends, have fun and best of all, raise money for a wonderful cause!

If you would like more information about how you or your company can support or donate to this promotion please contact enquiry@bonniebabes.org.au

Please note, all donations over $2 are tax deductible.

National Babies Day is proudly supported by:

Major Sponsor:

National Babies’ Day posters

Please use the links below to download posters for National Babies’ Day

National Babies Day Poster 2008 (PDF, 4.9mb)

National Babies Day Poster 2007 (PDF, 5.1mb)

The Bonnie Babes Foundation was founded in 1994 and is a non government funded, non-profit, volunteer based charity which provides:

The Bonnie Babes Foundation;

• Provides medical equipment to hospitals for premature babies struggling for life in intensive care.
• Assists vital medical research projects into pregnancy loss and complications to women’s health during and following pregnancy.
• Provides education and training for health professionals.
• Provides 24 hour, 7 day per week free family crisis phone lines for those who have lost a baby through miscarriage, stillbirth or prematurity.
• Provides health nutrition and wellness advice for women prior to and during pregnancy.
• Provides support for families with infertility issues and assists with counselling relating to infertility.
• Provides support for babies born with abnormalities.
• Supports women who develop pre-eclampsia and other medical conditions during pregnancy.
• The Foundation also provides education and training for health professionals.

Sadly one in every four pregnancies ends in a loss from miscarriage and stillbirth. One in every twenty babies are born prematurely.

In Australia, 1 in 10 babies are born prematurely, with almost half of these babies needing life support in a neonatal intensive care unit.  Tiny premature babies are often struggling on life support systems.  The equipment is expensive and technology can help these babies.  The Foundation’s aim is to raise much needed funds to help these special babies and increase their chances of survival.

The Bonnie Babes Foundation has helped thousands of families since its inception.  The Charity is a national grief counselling organisation and is the only organisation of its type in Australia covering all pregnancy loss issues.

The money raised contributes to purchasing new equipment, scholarships for young researchers, special research projects involving pregnant women, and most importantly, the provision of grief counselling services and grief support groups for families suffering this traumatic loss Australia wide.

Our honorary Lawyers are Wisewoulds Lawyers - Mr Robert Toth.

Medical Committee Members

• Professor Lesley Barclay - Professor and Director Northern Rivers University Department of Rural Health (NSW)
• Associate Professor Fiona Bogossian – University of Queensland
• Associate Professor Leonie Callaway - Head of Royal Brisbane Clinical School, Staff Specialist in Internal and Obstetric Medicine, Royal Brisbane & Women’s Hospital
• Professor Paul Colditz - Director Perinatal Research Centre, Royal Women’s Hospital, Brisbane
• Dr John Drew – Pediatrician
• Associate Professor Roger Hart – Specialist in Reproductive Medicine and Surgery, Fertility Specialists of Western Australia
• Associate Professor Ross Haslam – Head Neonatal Medicine, Women’s & Children’s Hospital (SA)
• Associate Professor Rosemary Horne, NHMRC Research Fellow, Scientific Director of the Ritchie centre, Monash Institute of Medical Research
• Professor Ian Macreadie - CSIRO Molecular and Health Technologies (Vic)
• Leah Magliano – Hobart Private Hospital, NUM
• Meredith McIntyre – Monash University, Senior Lecturer, School of Nursing and Midwifery
• Dr Lisa McKenna – Monash University, Senior Lecturer, School of Nursing and Midwifery
• Professor Helen McCutcheon – Head School of Nursing & Midwifery (SA)
• Dr Peter McDougall – Chief of Medicine, Director, Department of Neonatology, The Royal Children’s Hospital
• Professor Jeremy Oats – Director, Gynaecology & CPIU, The Royal Women’s Hospital (Vic)
• Dr C. Andrew Ramsden - Director Newborn Services, Monash Medical Centre
• Professor Karen Simmer - Professor of Newborn Medicine, University of Western Australia
• Dr Anne Sneddon – Director of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The Canberra Hospital
• Dr Brendan Steele - Head of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Sandringham & District Memorial Hospital
• Dr Christine Tippett - Director Maternal Fetal Medicine Unit, Monash Medical Centre
• Dr Stephen Tong - Clinician and Research Scientist, Monash Institute of Medical Research Monash University
• Professor Brian Trudinger – Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Westmead Hospital (NSW)
• Professor Euan Wallace – Clinical Director, Centre for Women’s Health Research, Monash Institute Medical Research

The Bonnie Babes Foundation is a free grief counselling service for families that have experienced the loss of a baby through miscarriage, stillbirth or prematurity and related issues such as infertility.