As you probably know, World Prematurity Day is the most important day of the year for our community and each year, it is gaining in global momentum. In Canada alone, we had 57 landmarks lit up while CPBF hosted 21 in-person celebrations in hospitals across the country. And in total, 107 countries around the world participated in World Prematurity Day activities and events.   For many of us, November 17 has become a familiar date; a day marked in purple, filled with stories, a

In March 2020, the world changed overnight.  Hospitals tightened restrictions. Volunteers were asked to step back. NICU families, already navigating the emotional intensity of prematurity, suddenly found themselves even more alone.  At CPBF, we knew we couldn’t let connection disappear when families needed it most.  So, we tried something new.  That spring, Preemie Chats was born — a virtual space where parents and healthcare providers could still learn, connect, and feel sup

There is a quiet moment that happens every day in neonatal follow-up clinics.  A parent sits across from a clinician. Their child is beside them. There are forms, clipboards, screens, and time limits. On paper, it looks like care.  But care is not experienced on paper. Care is experienced in the body.  At the 2026 CHILD-BRIGHT Conference, speakers Jessica Green and Stephanie Glegg shared a story from a follow-up appointment that many parents will recognize. As the conversatio

What if one of the most powerful tools in neonatal care was already in the room?  Skin-to-skin care, also known as kangaroo care, is not new. The evidence is clear: it stabilizes infants, supports brain development, improves breastfeeding outcomes, and protects parental mental health. Yet, across Canada, it isn’t consistently happening.  In 2025, the national Family Engagement EPIQ (Evidence-based Practice for Improving Quality) Group was formed with a bold vision: to make fa

In neonatal units from coast to coast, something beautiful is taking shape this May. For the first time ever, we’re hosting the National Kangaroo-a-thon, a friendly but powerful nationwide challenge that puts what matters most front and centre: parents and their babies.   At its heart, the Kangaroo-a-thon is a celebration of the time parents spend doing kangaroo care. That’s the science-backed practice of holding a baby skin-to-skin, heart to heart, a method shown to reduce s

Last November, something extraordinary happened.  In a room filled with candlelight, music, and stories of resilience, the preemie community came together for the very first Little Lights, Big Hearts Gala, and it sold out.  What we expected to be a meaningful fundraiser became something even more powerful: a night of connection, celebration, and shared purpose. Families, healthcare providers, researchers, and advocates gathered not just to support premature babies, but to hon

Every year, the EPIQ conference brings together Canada’s level-3 NICUs to share knowledge, strengthen quality improvement, and move neonatal care forward.   But it’s the people that truly makes the EPIQ conference special.  The 2026 conference in Banff highlighted the growing and essential role of NICU parent partners in shaping better care. Families are not an “add-on” to quality improvement. They are at the heart of it.  At the pre-conference Family Integrated Care workshop

By Dr. Namrata Todurkar For decades, the "graduation" of a preterm baby from the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) followed a strict ritual: the baby had to be off caffeine and "apnea-free" for at least five to seven days. If they weren't, they stayed in the hospital or went home hooked up to a bulky, often frustrating, home apnea monitor. However, neonatal medicine is shifting. Today, more families are walking out of the NICU with a prescription for caffeine in hand—and no

In a recent CHILD-BRIGHT Network webinar, Fabiana Bacchini, Executive Director of CPBF , joined a discussion on the challenges families face when transitioning from the NICU to home. The episode, “Nurse Navigators to Support Neonatal Transition,”  highlights the urgent need for better psychosocial support for parents of infants with medical complexities. Parents in the NICU often experience elevated stress, anxiety, and depression , and these challenges intensify during the m

It can be hard for parents to know how to help their premature baby in those first hours and days after birth. One of the most powerful ways to support a premature baby from the very beginning is by providing colostrum. Sometimes called liquid gold, colostrum is the very first breastmilk a mother’s body will make. Read on to learn why colostrum is so important for babies (especially preemies), and how to collect every last drop! What is colostrum? Colostrum is the earliest fo

In June 2025, Fabiana Bacchini, Executive Director of the Canadian Premature Babies Foundation (CPBF), joined UNICEF Ukraine for a discussion on the impact of FiCare or her experience in the NICU. During the talk, Fabiana shared her deeply personal story of having a premature baby and her time in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). While in the NICU, she participated in a Family Integrated Care (FiCare) study—an experience that transformed her understanding of neonatal c

By Dr. Namrata Todurkar Understanding high blood pressure in NICU     High blood pressure (BP) in newborn babies, also called NEONATAL HYPERTENSION is an issue found especially in infants who are admitted to the NICU. While it is relatively rare, occurring in about 0.2-3% of NICU infants, it is important for parents to understand that this condition requires careful monitoring and management.     What is Neonatal Hypertension?   Neonatal Hypertension is defined as blood press

On November 17, the world lights up in purple as we come together to raise awareness about the challenges of preterm birth and to celebrate the incredible strength of preemies and their families.    From coast to coast and across more than 110 countries, millions of people unite in hope and solidarity, and you can be part of it!    This year’s theme, Give Preterm Babies a Strong Start for a Brighter Future, reminds us that every baby deserves the chance not only to survive, b

By Fabiana Bacchini, Executive Director, CPBF   It was an honour to spend a week with the incredible team at the Sioux Lookout First Nations Health Authority (SLFNHA ) . My time there was filled with listening, learning, sharing stories, and exchanging knowledge about how we can better support families of preterm babies across Northern Ontario—an important step on our path of reconciliation. I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to be there in person, to see, hear, and bet

Little Lights, Big Hearts – Thursday, November 6, 2025   Get ready for an unforgettable night as the Canadian Premature Babies Foundation (CPBF) hosts its first-ever gala, Little Lights, Big Hearts, celebrating courage, connection, and the collective impact of Canada’s NICU community.  Join us for a night of inspiration and purpose at Parkview Manor (55 Barber Greene Rd., Toronto) on Thursday, November 6, 2025.  Event Details  Time: 5:30 PM Cocktail Reception | 6:30 PM Dinner

This November, the Canadian Premature Babies Foundation (CPBF) will host its first-ever gala – Little Lights, Big Hearts , a national celebration of courage, compassion, and community.  The gala will bring together families, healthcare professionals, researchers, and corporate partners from across Canada to raise critical funds for programs that support premature babies and their families in the NICU and beyond. Behind this celebration are stories like Julianne’s, a reminder

For many former NICU parents, returning to work or volunteer in the NICU can feel both meaningful and lonely. The Canadian Premature Babies Foundation’s (CPBF) innovative Parent Partner Network (PPN) is helping to change that. When CPBF began 13 years ago, we dreamed of connecting NICUs, families, and Parent Partners from coast to coast. Today, that dream is a reality with more than 50 Parent Partners connecting regularly through our national network. The PPN brings together

We’re thrilled to announce that the Canadian Premature Babies Foundation (CPBF) has joined forces with Our Kids Health to launch a new initiative designed to empower families with inclusive, evidence-based resources: the Preemie Hub.  The Preemie Hub was created to address the real challenges families face after a premature birth by offering knowledge, connection, and culturally responsive support.  This growing online network provides trusted information in 10 languages and

Last week, we gathered an engaged community of healthcare professionals, parent advocates, and NICU families for our RSV Prevention for Every Baby: Innovation, Equity and Advocacy in Canada webinar. The discussion was powerful, the insights were deep, and the energy was hopeful. Thank you to everyone who joined us!  What We Heard  Dr. Cora Constantinescu and Dr. Jaris Swidrovich shared recent evidence on RSV risk, prevention strategies, and the gaps in equitable access across

RSV and flu season can be an especially stressful time for families of premature babies. Because of their underdeveloped lungs and immune systems, preterm infants are at higher risk of severe illness from Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV).  To help families and healthcare providers prepare, we’ve developed a range of resources and educational tools to support prevention, awareness, and advocacy across Canada.  Learn & Prevent  Understanding how RSV spreads and what can be don