World Prematurity Day raises awareness about the unique issues faced by premature infants. It also celebrates the growth and development of older children and babies born prematurely. This day is a great opportunity to show support to those in your community who work with premature infants and newborns.

Full-term pregnancy can last between 37 and 42 weeks. Prematurity refers to a baby who is born before 37 weeks gestational time. Prematurely born infants can face special challenges, such as breathing difficulties, feeding difficulties and low birth weight.

Prematurely-born babies tend to spend longer in hospital than full-term babies. Many end up staying in NICU units or special care nurseries until they can be deemed stable and healthy enough for them to be released home. Many families find this difficult.

Although there are risk factors that can lead to premature births, such as the mother’s overall health and lifestyle and if she has multiple children (twins and triplets), it is not uncommon for mothers to deliver their baby prematurely. Even mothers who have taken excellent prenatal care and done everything right, they may still be at risk.

It is a good idea to be aware of the signs of preterm labor. These include backache, cramping, frequent contractions, and regular times. You should also discuss planning and preterm labor risks with your doctor. Preterm labor symptoms can be treated. There are steps you can take to delay, manage or even prevent premature births.

Modern healthcare has made it possible to improve the outlook for premature babies. Statistics show that the sooner a baby is born the more severe his or her health problems will be.

World Prematurity Day allows you to reflect on the progress made in pre-natal and neonatal health and to celebrate the positive outcomes of new research and interventions that have significantly improved the chances of premature infants being born each year. World Prematurity Day reminds pregnant women to talk about preterm labor with their pre-natal care team.

Premature infants are often unable to regulate body heat. To celebrate World Prematurity Day, you could host a gift drive to collect new blankets and mittens for parents or hospitals that welcome premature infants. It is a good idea to contact your local hospital to find out what their nursery needs are. Also, consider what gifts you could donate to prematurely-born infants’ parents who might be in a longer hospital stay.

World Prematurity Day can also be a great opportunity to reach out and encourage parents who have children who were prematurely born. You can help families caring for prematurely-born infants by reaching out to your local midwife or pregnancy center.