Around 4,500 babies born in Ireland every year are premature, with one in every ten born prematurely worldwide, which, according to the Irish Neonatal Health Alliance (INHA), is probably more than what people imagine it to be.
The INHA have released a new guide, 10 things to know about the 1 in 10, to help all mothers be as prepared as possible in case their little one does arrive early. It provides information from preconception right up to caring for a premature baby.
"The INHA is here to support families affected by prematurity, and a part of that is educating and empowering families by encouraging them to be actively involved in the care of their baby from the very start in the neonatal unit.," Mandy Daly of the INHA explained.
The INHA is highlighting this issue ahead of World Prematurity Day on Tuesday, 17th November,as well as focusing on the vital role of family-centred and developmentally supportive care when it comes to looking after premature babies.
Talking about the new family focused centres, Dr John Murphy, a consultant neonatologist at the National Materity Hospital, Holles Street told Irish Health: "Family-centered and developmentally supportive care are now recognised as best practice and an essential attribute of high-quality neonatal and family care."
A number of buildings are set to go purple next Tuesday, including the Rotunda Hospital, the Coombe Hospital, Liberty Hall and Dundrum Town Centre as well as Blackrock Castle in Cork.
