World Prematurity Day 2023

As today is World Prematurity Day, we would like to express gratitude for the hard-working NICU staff across the globe who provide advanced, specialised care for preterm newborns, helping ensure the best possible outcomes for these vulnerable patients. With approximately 1 in 10 babies born prematurely around the world and 1/15th of those facing serious health challenges*, our #DeviceTechnologies #CriticalCare Team are proud to work closely with NICU staff across Australia and New Zealand to provide valuable medical technologies and solutions to help healthcare professionals support and care for their patients.

Recently, we spoke to?Nurse Unit Manager - Clinical Services Leads,?Kate Duthie and Melinda Newton from Monash Newborn at Monash Children's Hospital to hear their thoughts on World Prematurity Day, and discuss the importance of raising awareness for preterm births.

In your own words, what does World Prematurity Day mean to you? What is the significance of this initiative??

World Prematurity Day raises awareness of premature birth?and the challenges that are associated with being born too early. It also gives us an opportunity to celebrate the determination, strength and triumphs of our tiny patients and their families.

In your position, how often do you see preterm births, and what are some of the complications that can arise from a newborn being born prematurely?

We see preterm births almost every day in our Unit. There are many potential complications that can arise, usually depending on how early the baby was born. These can include chronic lung disease, brain bleeds and infection.

What are some of the key factors that contribute to premature births??

We often don’t know the cause of premature birth. Sometimes it can be caused by things such as infection, high blood pressure, multiple pregnancies, or other chronic conditions. For the parents, there is often guilt associated with premature birth, as parents often blame themselves, even though usually there was nothing they could have done to prevent their baby being born early.

In your position, how do you think the field has evolved over the years in terms of improving outcomes for premature babies, and how have new medical technologies and advancements impacted this??

It is astounding how far we have come in the field of neonatology over the years.?We are very proud of the research focus that we have at Monash Newborn, to help in assessing what we currently do, investigating new ideas, and determining best practices. The available knowledge and technology have allowed us to improve so many outcomes for our patients and families. From very technical things such as the way we ventilate babies with different strategies, ventilators, and modes of ventilation has been incredibly beneficial in enabling us to be more gentle to baby’s lungs; to even seemingly simple things such as utilising a monitor at a birth, and using a ‘pedicel’ to monitor carbon dioxide levels to help us determine if the breathing tube is in the correct place – we used to only use a stethoscope for these things. We are constantly improving practice, which leads to better care for our babies.

Other than general awareness, what would you personally like to see happen from sharing these messages about World Prematurity Day?

We would love to recognise the amazing work of our team. There is sometimes a misconception that our job is cuddling and bottle-feeding babies. What our job actually involves is life-saving care of critically unwell and vulnerable patients requiring life-saving intensive care. Our job can be really tough – it is mentally and emotionally exhausting at times. But it can also be the best job in the world – sharing some of the most precious moments with our families – from first cuddles and first baths, graduating from needing breathing support, helping their babies grow big and strong enough, to go home. We are here as the support team and the cheerleaders for these amazing babies and their families, and the privilege of sharing their journeys is never lost on us.

*Learn more about World Prematurity Day from Miracle Babies Foundation here:?https://www.miraclebabies.org.au/content/world-prematurity-day/gjychc#WorldPrematurityDay

To learn more about our Critical Care products, services and solutions, or to contact the team, please visit:?https://www.device.com.au/c/critical-care