Small actions, big impact as World Premature Day is celebrated

The celebration also afforded the hospital an opportunity to elaborate the concerns of preterm babies and their families’ experiences. Prematurity is a live born infant delivered before 37 weeks gestation (259) days from the first day of the last menstrual period. 
This hospital has recorded 384 premature babies born since January 2023. Dr Gretel Gonzalaz Gilart indicated that babies born too early may face life-threatening complications and have lifelong health problems. 
“We don’t always know what causes prematurity. Even if you do everything right during pregnancy, you can still give birth early” said Dr Gonzalaz Gilart. Premature babies are not fully developed at birth. They may have health problems necessitating them to stay in the hospital longer than babies born at term. Common complications for preterm babies can affect all body systems and babies are at high risk of dying. Premature babies can suffer lifelong effects such as neurological impairment, recurrent hospitalizations, visual and hearing impairments, and poor health and growth. Babies born only a few weeks early (late preterm, 34-36 weeks) often have long-term difficulties such as: behavioural and social-emotional problems. Immediate skin-to-skin care for every baby everywhere.” 
Skin-to-skin contact has been proven to be extremely effective for every baby, especially for premature babies. 
The hospital Dietetics Department, highlighted on the importance of providing premature babies with breastmilk to support those babies who their mothers cannot express milk. Lebogang Senye, (mother to premature twins), advised other mothers not to stress about their babies being hospitalized. She further advised mothers to allow hospital personnel to do their work without hindrance as they are well trained. 
“I would like to thank the hospital for care they have rendered to my babies”, concluded Senye.