We are in the NEWS - Mum's Mission to aid babies

Call for premature baby lifesaver - article on BBC News 24 featuring Katie and Arwyn

Caffeine Miscarriage Warning
Pregnant women were warned yesterday that excess caffeine could lead to miscarriages. (11 Oct 2001)

Amillia shows 24 weeks is too late to abort

Aromatherapy in intensive care
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Music therapy for babies in intensive care
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Babies are "50 per cent more likely to die in busy intensive care units"
Babies in intensive care are 50 per cent more likely to die if the unit is full, according to a wide-ranging new study. The workload, rather than the number of nurses or consultants, or even the size of the unit, is the key factor determining survival rates, the study says. The findings, reported in The Lancet, contradict the standard thinking that in neonatal intensive care units "bigger is better". The Independent 11/01/02; p.9

Premature babies struggle into adult life
Premature babies with very low birth-weight experience physical, intellectual and professional disadvantage even as adults, according to research published in The New England Journal of Medicine. Paediatricians from three US universities found that, at the age of 20, people who weighed less than 3lbs at birth have lower IQs, poorer academic scores and suffer more chronic illness than peers with a normal birth weight.
The Independent 17/01/02; p.10

Babies at risk if their mothers are too fat
Birth defects, premature delivery and other severe health problems for babies are being linked to rising rates of obesity in women in the US. Researchers from Columbia University in New York, and the March of Dimes, the voluntary organisation that funded the study, say the rising numbers of women who are overweight or obese before pregnancy represents a health 'time-bomb'. They say there is also evidence that babies born to obese mothers risk a range of health problems later in life.
The Daily Mail 25/02/02; p15

Hospital practices 'cause babies’ deaths'

A report revealed yesterday (24/02/02) that sloppy hospital practices lead to the deaths of 200 premature babies a year. A government-funded report found that large numbers of women and babies are receiving substandard care in the NHS and says many units have substantial room for improvement. The Mirror 25/02/02; p.8

EXERCISE 'CUTS RISK OF PREMATURE BIRTH'

US researchers say women who keep fit during pregnancy have less chance of a premature delivery. The UK has the highest rate of premature births in Europe. Scientists at the University of North Carolina say vigorous exercise between the third and sixth months of pregnancy could halve the risk of having problems with an early birth.
The Daily Mail 12/11/02; p.22

Premature babies 'don't take risks as adults'
Thursday, 17 January, 2002, 03:28 GMT

Virtual visits of premature babies available at Singapore hospital
A trial service is enabling parents and relatives of premature babies to view the tiny infants online, Singapore General Hospital said on Friday.14 April 2006

Why prematurity puts lungs at risk
Thursday, 1 November, 2001

Baby lung virus campaign launched
Monday, 21 October, 2002

Hormone help for premature babies
Sunday, 3 November, 2002

Premature babies 'remain less bright
'Monday, 11 November, 2002

More premature babies surviving

One in eight premature babies born alive dies within the first month, the Confidential Enquiry into Stillbirths and Deaths in Infancy (CESDI) has found. The study examined 3,522 babies born alive at 27 to 28 weeks’ gestation, the lowest limit at which babies are expected to survive undamaged with the right care. Of these, 423 died within 28 days. Advances in medical technology mean premature babies who would have died 20 years ago can now have a normal life. The Independent 24/03/03; p.13

Dieting before pregnancy is risky
Even modest deficiencies in a mother's diet around the time of conception can lead to premature birth and affect the long-term health of her child, according to a US study.

Painkiller breakthrough for premature babies

The finding by researchers from the medical college at the University of California, Irvine, suggest that the drugs, called COX-2 inhibitors, preserve molecules that encourage crucial lung and eye growth. Although trials have yet to be carried out in humans, researchers say that, ultimately, COX-2 inhibitors could prove more effective than existing treatments to preserve the growth of lungs and eyes in premature babies.

Premature babies are not born with fully developed lungs and are exposed to high concentrations of oxygen to assist their lungs with breathing.However, oxygen also contributes to the development of the eye disorder retinopathy of prematurity – excessive branching and growth of blood vessels in the infant eye –and bronchopulmonary dysplasia – a chronic inflammation of the airways and the lung tissue of premature newborns.

Researcher Professor Houchang Modanlou says that tests on rabbits suggest COX-2 inhibitors promoted elevated levels of vital growth-inducing chemicals that help lungs and tissues grow. Crucially, these increases occurred despite the fact that, at the same time, the newborns were given oxygen to assist breathing. Oxygen typically decreases levels of these important chemicals, researchers explain.

Prof Modanlou’s research showed that while oxygen decreased growth factors called VEGFs three- to five-fold and lowered VEGFs’ receptors in the lung by three- to four-fold, the COX-2 inhibitors actually increased the number of these important receptors. Receptors for VEGF are necessary for the molecule to stimulate the growth of blood vessels in lung tissues and encourage growth, researchers explain.

The team add that the drug dexamethasone, used in premature infants to stave off the negative effects of oxygen, decreased the number of receptors. Dexamethasone is a steroid-based drug that has some success in preventing diseases common in premature births but has been linked to a number of side effects, including delayed brain and body development, and increased risks of cerebral palsy.

This study indicates that [COX-2 inhibitors] may be a more suitable alternative than dexamethasone in preventing the growth-suppressing effects of oxygen, says Prof Modanlou. © HMG Worldwide 2002 http://www.health-news.co.uk/

Taking fish oil supplements may help prevent premature birth.
Eating oily fish such as salmon, mackerel, sardines, or bluefish several times a week may help, too, but pregnant women are probably better off with supplements because fish may contain levels of mercury and other contaminants that put a growing fetus at risk.

Baby food formulas available on prescription

Two baby food formulas have been added to the recommended list of products and medicines that family doctors can prescribe and removed from Schedule 10 of the NHS (General Medical Services) Regulations, which prohibits the prescription of listed products by GPs on the NHS.

The government’s Advisory Committee on Borderline Substances (ACBS) says Farley’s Premcare and Cow and Gate’s Nutriprem 2 can help bottle-fed premature or low birth-weight babies catch up to a normal weight particularly babies born before 35 weeks and small for gestational age infants, until six months after birth.

Study shows lack of care for premature babies

Hundreds of women with high-risk pregnancies are transferred between hospitals each year because of an acute shortage of intensive care cots for premature and sick babies. During one three-month period, 258 pregnant women had to be moved to another hospital because the specialist centre at which they were treated did not have adequate resources, a study has shown. The results, published in the International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, were condemned as unacceptable by clinicians from the British Association of Perinatal Medicine. (The Independent 18/06/02; p.4)

Dangers of immunisation in premature babies
Doctors from Winchester report four cases where premature babies developed severe apnoea (failure to breathe) within 24 hours of having diphtheria, pertussis and tetanus (DPT) and influenza (Hib) immunisation. They had to be resuscitated, and one needed to be incubated and ventilated.

The authors suggest that the risk of severe apnoea (failure to breathe) after immunisation may be as high as 8% in babies born before 30 weeks. Neonatal units usually immunise premature babies at around 8 weeks after delivery, but it may be wise to delay this.

AIMS Comment
The risk may not be only in premature babies. We know of cases where parents have been accused of child abuse when they reported apnoea attacks in their babies. But they believe the cause was recent immunisation.

Reference
Slack M, Shapira DE, Severe apnoeas following immunisation in premature infants, Arch. Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed, 1999;81: F67-F68.

 

UK Premature Baby Ventilation Trial Cleared Of Causing Long-term Harm To Participants
( 03 Apr 2006)

Premature Babies Feel ‘True’ Pain
Premature babies experience ‘true’ pain, a new study shows.
A team of researchers from University College London studied the brains scans of premature babies while they were having blood tests. cont... April 2006

Medical advances improve pre-term babies' chances for survival (USA)

New hope to cut premature births (The project is within 6 months to a year of completion (April, 2002)

Car seat danger to new babies Sept 2001

The dangers of keeping premature babies in car seats for too long.

Special deliveries
Sue Summers goes behind the scenes at Queen Charlotte's Hospital to witness the everyday miracles of its premature-baby unit Sunday March 17, 2002 The Observer

Premature baby units 'are in chaos' Plan to improve service and end trauma of newborns being shuttled across country for intensive care (Observer Nov 2002).

Smog aggravates asthma in children born prematurely or of low birthweight,
UC Berkeley researchers find (16 Nov 2000) Read more

An Irish surgeon working in Glasgow has developed a method to improve survival in some premature babies. Read more

Extremely premature babies 'should not be resuscitated' say doctors
Last updated at 09:53am on 15th November 2006

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BLISS launches little BLISS Club!

Welcome to the little BLISS Club, the UK-wide
club set up to link the thousands of mums, dads, grandparents and carers of babies who are born prematurely or sick.

Join the little BLISS Club now for just £2 a month, and receive an exclusive quarterly magazine with the latest information on medical issues, top tips on feeding, development, baby products, family holidays and much more.

As a member, you also have access to the little BLISS Club forum on the BLISS message board, regular updates on BLISS services, local branch meetings across the UK and events for all the family.