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News items on 'Preterm Babies'
One in 15 babies born prematurely
(The Scotsman 22/09/2009)
PREMATURE births have risen by 16 per cent over the last 25 years while survival rates have dramatically improved, Scottish researchers revealed yesterday. Between 1980 and 1985, 54 babies per 1,000 were born prematurely. But this increased to 63 between 2000 and 2005. The figures mean about one in every 15 single births is now premature, which is defined as babies born before 37 weeks. But while pre-term births have risen, medical advances mean survival rates have significantly improved.
Family-friendly baby units urged
(BBC 12/08/2009)
Neonatal units looking after premature babies need redesigning to put parents at the heart of care, say campaigners. Parents' needs can get overlooked as the medical needs of the babies are the main priority for staff, Bliss and the National Childbirth Trust (NCT) found. They are asking health workers to put themselves "in the shoes" of parents. Part of the problem, they say, is a lack of family-friendly facilities, like designated rooms on units for parents or play areas for siblings.
(BBC 05/08/2009)
The survival rate of premature babies born in Northern Ireland has gone up by 25%, with medicine advancing so far that even from 24 weeks medical teams can keep the smallest of babies alive. BBC Northern Ireland health correspondent Marie-Louise Connolly meets some of the hospital staff who care for premature babies. It is mid-morning in the Royal Jubilee Maternity hospital's neo-natal unit and it is busy. There are 21 babies here, of whom 16 are in intensive care cots.
Premature births
(BBC 19/06/2009)
Survival rates for premature babies have improved substantially in the past 30 years but there has been much less progress in predicting or preventing premature births. Sarah's daughter, Isabel was born three months premature in 2001. Her first few days of life were traumatic for both her and her family. "She had a massive brain haemorrhage on her second day, which left long-lasting implications for her health.
Multiple birth differences found
(BBC 11/06/2009)
Research suggests that a treatment that prevents premature births may be ineffective for multiple pregnancies. Progesterone gel treatment has been shown to reduce early births in women expecting one child considered at high risk of early labour, including those who had previously given birth prematurely. However, researchers found that contrary to single pregnancies, the hormone gel did not reduce rates of premature births in those expecting twins.
More premature babies surviving
(BBC 04/06/2009)
Survival chances have greatly improved for premature babies, even those born extremely early, work reveals. About 70% of babies born alive between 22 and 26 weeks gestation in Sweden now survive past the age of one, largely thanks to medical intervention. But the authors say their study in the Journal of the American Medical Association does not answer the bigger ethical question over intervention. Over half of the babies that survived experienced serious health problems.
Music 'nurtures' premature babies
(BBC 28/05/2009)
Hospitals that play music to premature babies help them grow and thrive, mounting evidence suggests. The benefits are said to be calmer infants and parents as well as faster weight gain and shorter hospital stays. A Canadian team reviewed nine studies and found music reduced pain and encouraged better oral feeding. Music also appeared to have beneficial effects on physiological measures like heart and respiratory rate, Archives of Disease in Childhood reports.
Sick Welsh babies' 'greater risk'
(BBC 17/05/2009)
Sick and premature babies in Wales could be at greater risk than those elsewhere in the UK due to a lack of staff adequate services, a nursing director says.
Is the health service failing premature babies?
(Mirror 26/03/2009)
Thousands of premature babies are shunted around the country because of a lack of specialist nurses, leaving anxious families stressed. So is infant care being seriously neglected?
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