Soundarya’s story

6 July 2026

When Soundarya’s baby girl arrived at 30 weeks, nothing could have prepared her and her husband, Vamshi, for what lay ahead. As first-time parents, watching their tiny pēpi in NICU and then SCBU was one of the scariest, most emotional experiences of their lives. But from those very first days, they say they were fortunate to have support around them that made all the difference.

The very first nappies their daughter wore were Huggies, provided by the hospital, and the family have continued to use them ever since. Huggies is one of our amazing partners, providing nappies for the new baby bags our whānau receive at their first appointment.

“They’ve always been so soft, gentle, and comfortable on her sensitive preemie skin,” says Soundarya. “Thankfully she has never had any rashes.”

“They’ve always been so soft, gentle, and comfortable on her sensitive preemie skin,” says Soundarya. “Thankfully she has never had any rashes.”

Soundarya says that her experience with Plunket has been “absolutely amazing”.

“Their support has meant so much to our family. From home visits checking our baby’s weight, height, and overall development, to guiding us through tube feeding independently, introducing solids, textures, consistency, and explaining the difference between gagging and choking – they were always there for us with kindness and reassurance.”

One moment Soundarya will never forget was when her baby pulled out her nasogastric (NG) feeding tube during the early days at home. Feeling panicked, she and her husband called PlunketLine late at night and were quickly helped by a nurse who supported them.

“That comfort and support meant everything to us. It gave me a lot of confidence as a new parent," says Soundarya. "Whenever we needed guidance or reassurance, PlunketLine was there."

“We truly feel so lucky and grateful to have had this support throughout our parenting journey. Thank you Plunket and Huggies for helping families like ours feel supported, confident, and cared for every step of the way.”