TODDLERS have shown their toughness at an adventure trail course staged to raise awareness of the complications around premature birth.

As part of World Prematurity Day, the global awareness day dedicated to premature birth and the devastating impact it can have on families, an adventure course in Denbigh was invaded by 40 toddlers and pre-schoolers – including children born at 24 weeks, 25 weeks, 26 weeks and 30 weeks – who are learning to walk and grab life with both hands.

The ‘Tough Toddler’ charity event, a toddler version of the popular ‘tough mudder’ endurance obstacle courses for adults, was held at Ruthin and Denbigh Gymnastics Club on Saturday, November 17 with obstacles such as balancing beams, cargo net crawls, inflatable hurdles and swinging bars.

The event raised £3,000 for the Liverpool Women’s Hospital’s (LWH) Newborn Appeal who helped the event organiser Rosie Hughes’ eldest child was born at six months gestation to receive “make or break” NHS care.

Ms Hughes’ daughter, Amelia, is now aged three and took part in the adventure course. Her mother said: “We chose the LWH's Newborn Appeal primarily as this is where our eldest child was born and received an exceptional standard of care, whilst we as parents were also supported at every stage with consideration understanding and empathy.

“Every staff member went above and beyond for 66 days; she received the make or break care.

“Amelia was first intubated (on a ventilator) for four days before being transferred into continuous positive airway pressure treatment and then high flow oxygen therapy. She was treated for having fluid in her lungs, received multiple courses of antibiotics and had five blood transfusions and daily blood tests to monitor her situation.

“This was beside the care needed to ensure that her very delicate skin was cared for and to support us as parents in learning how to do the simplest of tasks, such as cuddling her.

“For us and other families like us the accommodation that we were provided with at no cost enabled us to focus on our new born and her needs.”

Premature births can cause a wide range of health complications such as pneumonia, meningitis and permanent vision difficulties. But they also cause significant emotional distress to the families of new-born babies, who "have been preparing for the arrival of a small yet fully developed little baby with new born baby smell who they can snuggle up and keep safe and are suddenly thrown into a world or plastic boxes, alarms and oxygen canisters and that are keeping their child alive," said Ms Hughes.

“A premature parent has to learn quickly to meet the demand of a child born too soon and to do that needs the support of understanding and empathetic medics who can, in the strangest of environments, enable you to bond with your child," she added.

A neonatal unit opened at Glan Clwyd Hospital this year but babies born at a severe gestation of less than 27 weeks need to be treated at Arrow Park on the Wirral or the LWH.

The funds raised will contribute to purchase specialised equipment, carry out research into new-born care and train nurses and midwives.

Nadia Alsafaar, fundraising manager for Liverpool Women's Charity, said: "This is a phenomenal achievement and the charity is extremely grateful for their ongoing dedication to the unit, helping to provide the best possible care to the premature and poorly babies at Liverpool Women's Hospital.

"It has been so wonderful to see Amelia and her friends complete Tough Toddler, showing what little fighters they continue to be since their stay on the neonatal unit."