Light Weight Club

Light Weight Club is a support group dedicated to parents and caregivers of children who were born prematurely with a birth weight of less than 1500 grams and have graduated from the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). It provides families with a space to reflect on the challenges faced during their child’s early days and to celebrate how far their children have come.

The support group brings together families who share similar experiences, fostering understanding, encouragement, and mutual support as they continue their journey of raising ex‑premature children. Light Weight Club also strengthens partnerships between families and healthcare professionals who remain involved in monitoring the children’s ongoing growth, development, and well‑being. Led by the Neonatal and Developmental Medicine team, the Light Weight Club builds on the department’s over 40 years of experience in caring for premature infants and supporting families beyond the NICU.

A key highlight of the group is the annual Light Weight Club gathering, which celebrates the resilience and milestones of ex‑premature children. These reunions offer a warm, non‑clinical environment where families and healthcare professionals reconnect, reflect on shared journeys, and honour the courage and perseverance of both the children and their families. By coming together, the Light Weight Club reinforces the message that these children are defined not by their difficult beginnings, but by their continued growth and resilience.

Who this is for

• Parents and caregivers of premature babies with a birth weight of less than 1500 grams who have graduated from the NICU

How the Light Weight Club supports members

Members of the Light Weight Club benefit from ongoing connection, reassurance, and shared understanding beyond the NICU experience.

Members can benefit by:

• Connecting with other parents and caregivers who have experienced the challenges of prematurity, reducing feelings of isolation.
• Celebrating milestones and progress of ex‑premature children in a supportive and encouraging environment.
• Gaining reassurance and perspective through shared experiences and conversations with families on similar journeys.
• Strengthening relationships with healthcare professionals who continue to support the child’s growth and development.
• Building lasting bonds and community, fostering trust, confidence, and emotional well‑being for families.

Members can look forward to annual celebrations such as World Prematurity Day, where families, children, and healthcare professionals come together to celebrate milestones, share experiences, and honour the resilience of premature babies. These events provide a meaningful opportunity to reconnect, reflect, and build lasting memories as part of the Light Weight Club community.

Every year, SGH commemorates World Prematurity Day by lighting up the iconic Bowyer Block Clock Tower in purple. This annual tradition honours the journeys of our preterm babies, raises awareness of the challenges faced by premature infants and their families, and celebrates their strength, resilience, and achievements.