<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Shantelle's son Bowie spent eight months in the hospital after he was born early at 24 weeks, weighing just 623g.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>His first 10 weeks on earth were in an intubator at King Edward Memorial Hospital in </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/perth" rel="" target="_blank" title="Perth"><span>Perth</span></a><span>, his parents left in a terrifying limbo as they waited for him to pull through.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"He was so sick, there were days where we couldn't touch him or carry him," Shantelle told </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/" rel="" target="_blank" title="9news.com.au."><span>9news.com.au.</span></a></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/visas-australia-south-korean-family-in-melbourne-facing-deportation-over-document-error-plea-to-immigration-minister/fbe7e793-9a9f-4a63-a16a-ed0accae724e" rel="" target="_blank" title="Melbourne family risk being deported to South Korea over 'misunderstanding'"><strong><span>Melbourne family risk being deported to South Korea over 'misunderstanding'</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Shantelle said she couldn't have coped without the "angels" in the NICU ward.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I like to call NICU nurses the Navy SEALs of nursing, they wear so many hats," she explained.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>But nearly 4000km away in Sydney, there is a "crisis" in NICU wards across the city.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/nicu-nurses-shortage-mum-shantelle-son-bowie/3c3ba47d-33f1-467e-9228-70c19e665b6a" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/nepean-hospital-nicu-ward-nurses-claim-understaffing-impacting-care/93ea9c66-eaad-4b04-99d0-365bcb69e47a" rel="" target="_blank" title="Nurses at two major Sydney hospitals have recently warned"><span>Nurses at two major Sydney hospitals have recently warned</span></a><span> of a "severe" nursing shortage impacting babies and mothers in the neonatal wards.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>NICU staff in the NICU at Sydney's Westmead Hospital went on strike last month and nurses at Nepean Hospital held a rally last week over concerns about patient safety and staffing levels.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Sometimes they're as sick as our adult patients in intensive care, but they're not being afforded the same level of safe staffing as their adult counterparts," NSWNMA Nepean Hospital Branch Secretary Alicia Rodgers said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Chief executive of Miracle Babies Kyle Pussell told </span><a href="http://9news.com.au"><span>9news.com.au</span></a><span> staff shortages in NICU wards is a huge concern.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A lack of adequate staffing can be dangerous for mums and babies, she warned.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/indy-clinton-influencers-taking-a-stand-against-online-trolls-pursuing-legal-action-interview-content-creator-olivia-white/ee5b4149-5d6a-400f-a626-d1062b71c22f" target="_blank" title="'It's going to snowball': How Olivia unmasked her own anonymous troll"><strong><span>'It's going to snowball': How Olivia unmasked her own anonymous troll</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"There's a huge amount of nurse burnout, it [can cause] an increased risk of infection," Pussell said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We know these situations can cause increased risk of mortality and morbidity.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"There's so much research out there about it and we need to really adequately support the staff to be able to support the families and the babies."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Pussell said NICU nurses are there to guide new mums like Shantelle through what can be a traumatic time.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>And after welcoming her own twins at 25 weeks, Pussell said she needed NICU staff to hold her hand through a tough period too.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"It's scary for parents and babies, you never expect to go into a neonatal unit and have a premature or critically ill baby," she said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"That extra time, care, support and compassion that the nurses can give to the parents at that really critical point makes a huge difference in their long-term mental health."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><em><strong><span>Do you have a story? Contact</span></strong></em><span> </span><strong><em><span>reporter April Glover at</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="mailto:april.glover@nine.com.au" target="" title="april.glover@nine.com.au"><em><strong><span>april.glover@nine.com.au</span></strong></em></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Shantelle said her son's time in hospital was made easier thanks to nurses who could be "present".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>She believes having enough staff to concentrate on patient families is a vital part of NICU care.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Nurses have this magical ability to celebrate every win," she said. "Things like that really make a difference.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"They are so gentle and have so much care… that's something that I carried with me on days that I found it really hard to leave and go home"</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>NICU nurses at Nepean and Westmead hospitals have asked for the NSW government to take action and provide more funding to address the staff shortage.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>In a statement to </span><a href="http://9news.com.au"><span>9news.com.au</span></a><span>, a spokesperson for the Nepean Blue Mountains Local Health District said it is "constantly monitoring" the demand for services.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"When there is increased demand, additional cots and other resources are made available, and staffing is increased to care for these babies," the spokesperson said</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Nepean Blue Mountains Local Health District continues to grow its nursing workforce, including hiring 178 nurse graduates and increasing the Nepean Emergency Department nursing staff by the equivalent of 13 new fulltime nurses to implement Safe Staffing Levels as the NSW Government rolls out the major staffing reform."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/how-to-follow-9news-digital/29855bb1-ad3d-4c38-bc25-3cb52af1216f" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP</span></em></strong></a><strong><em><span>: Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. Available on the</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Apple App Store</span></em></strong></a><span> </span><strong><em><span>and</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&amp;hl=en_AU&amp;pli=1" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Google Play</span></em></strong></a><strong><em><span>.</span></em></strong></div></div>