About Us
Welma Lubbe
Welma Lubbe founded Little StepsTM, a registered nurse whom specialised in advanced midwifery, neonatal science and nursing education. Welma is passionate about preterm babies and their parents and provide education, support and clinical skills that are of a high, research-based standard.
Little Steps started when Welma was working in the NICU, stood next to her patients' beds and realised that parents dream about having a perfect pregnancy, birth and baby. However, when that baby comes too early, they face many challenges, when they are confronted with parenting, but at the same time are not allowed to be parents of their baby in the NICU. She realised that parents need support and decided to start to present workshops for parents during their stay in NICU. She then realised that the need is not contained to one region, but that a national need exist in South Africa. This realisation gave rise to further studies (a master's degree in nursing) and Welma designed the Little Steps website as a result. The website was the first South African, research based website, which provided parents with information applicable to our country and a multi-professional team contributed to the content. A website was the medium of choice, since Welma wanted to be able to update information as often as possible.
To provide the parenting workshops services to more sites in South Africa and to ensure that both parents and professionals receive the same information regarding the preterm baby's development, national training for healthcare professionals was started to enable more professionals to provide supportive workshops to parents with preterm babies in NICU. This service grew and currently there are 10 sites presenting parenting workshops in both the private and public sector.
Welma is currently busy with her PhD on Neurodevelopmental Supportive Care Guidelines for the South African context. She is also the president and a founder member of SANITSA- South African Neonate, Infant and Toddler Support Association.
Apart from being a guest lecturer at various universities country wide, Welma also presents papers and posters at national and international congresses and is a TV and radio guest. Welma is the author of a first-of-its-kind book for parents and professionals titled Prematurity – Adjusting Your Dream.
