Other content tagged: preterm babies
Putting the needs of preterm babies on the political agenda in Romania
Guest article by Diana Gamulescu, Co-founder and President of Asociatia Prematurilor in Romania. Preterm birth as health challenge in Romania In Romania, over 20,000 babies are born preterm each year, i.e. about 10% of all births. Experts recognise the major challenges preterm births pose for public health and the neonatal system in the country. Risks associated with being born too soon include an increased mortality rate and severe disability. In addition, many of these children experience neurodevelopmental difficulties, such as…
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Impact of a sensory-based intervention in the NICU on parents and their preterm born babies
35 families received the Supporting and Enhancing Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) Sensory Experiences (SENSE) programme-based intervention. The preterm born babies (≤ 32 weeks of pregnancy) experienced sensory exposures like human touch or massage on each day of their NICU hospitalisation. The main aim of the study was to find out whether it makes a difference who is performing (parents vs. volunteers/professionals) the sensory activity regarding the babies' neurobehaviour and parental mental health. In the…
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Mothers’ experiences of early skin-to-skin contact vs. traditional separation approach after a very preterm birth
Researchers in Norway explored experiences of mothers of very preterm children regarding early skin-to-skin contact vs. a traditional separation approach. Mothers benefited from skin-to-skin contact as it ensured them the vitality of the infant, promoted bonding and gave them an overall positive, emotionally overwhelming experience. In the last decades, contact between mother and child immediately after birth has changed. Nowadays, skin-to-skin contact (SSC) is mostly promoted, which also applies to caesarean sections. According to the…
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EFCNI involved in new study on blood transfusions in preterm babies
Most preterm babies admitted to a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) receive blood transfusions. Some neonates, however, receive blood transfusions even though these transfusions may not be necessary, cause side effects or even harm. Therefore, the International Neonatal tranSfusion PoInt pREvalence study (INSPIRE) aims to describe the current state and indications for blood transfusions among preterm babies in Europe. Although most preterm babies receive blood transfusions in the NICU, there are no international guidelines that have…
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Maintaining human milk bank services throughout the COVID-19 pandemic
Human Milk Bank (HMB) services have been impacted by the global COVID-19 pandemic. To better understand the impact, a Virtual Communication Network (VCN) was formed to collect data and experiences from HMBs across 35 countries. Every year approx. 800,000 infants receive donor human milk (DHM) worldwide. However, seven pandemic-related vulnerabilities to HMB service provision were identified. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends donor human milk from milk banks (HMB) as the next best…
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One- and two-year follow-up outcomes of the CARE-ROP study
The CARE-ROP study identified ranibizumab as an effective treatment to control acute retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), an eye disease that affects preterm babies. For 16 preterm children entering the follow-up period, their ophthalmologic- and neurodevelopment was assessed at the one-year and two-year visits post-baseline. The patients’ outcomes of ranibizumab usage are very reassuring regarding long-term safety. Yet, late reactivation of ROP can represent a challenge and calls for regular follow-ups. Retinopathy of prematurity is…
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