PREMATURE BIRTH

This study looked at whether a group-based prenatal program called Centering Pregnancy, combined with a care navigator, could help Marshallese women attend more appointments and have healthier babies. 38 pregnant women took part. The goal was to see if this approach could lower r…

This study tested whether starting kangaroo mother care (skin-to-skin contact and breastfeeding support) within the first 24 hours of life improves outcomes for healthy preterm babies weighing under 2000 grams. 100 infants were randomly assigned to early kangaroo care or standard…

This study tested two types of progesterone—vaginal gel and intramuscular shots—to see which works better at preventing another preterm birth in women who have already had one. About 210 pregnant women with a single baby and a history of early delivery took part. The goal was to …

This study looked at 203 pregnant women with a short cervix (25 mm or less) to see whether natural progesterone or a vaginal pessary works better to prevent preterm birth before 34 weeks. The goal was to find the most effective way to help women carry their babies longer. Results…

This study looked at whether music therapy can help preterm babies and their caregivers in the NICU. Researchers measured babies' vital signs like heart rate and breathing, as well as caregiver wellbeing. The goal was to gather initial evidence in a UK setting to support wider us…

This study tested whether using virtual reality (VR) for relaxation helps mothers of premature babies produce more breast milk and feel more confident about breastfeeding. 44 first-time mothers with babies in the NICU used VR headsets to watch calming nature videos before express…

This study looked at medical records of 250,000 preterm babies born before 37 weeks in England and Wales. Researchers wanted to find out when these babies are physically ready to go home and why some stay in the hospital longer than needed. The goal is to help families and save t…

This study tested if letting parents watch and help with syringe feeding (instead of using a machine) encourages them to spend more time in the neonatal unit. 72 premature babies born between 30-34 weeks took part. The goal was to see if this simple change increases parental pres…

This study looked at whether feeding very small premature babies (under 1251 grams) through a tube placed directly into the small intestine is safe and possible. The goal is to reduce stomach reflux that can damage fragile lungs. 24 babies participated to see if this method works…

This study looked at whether natural (unprocessed) or pasteurized milk helps the gut mature faster in very premature babies born between 28 and 30 weeks. Researchers gave 55 infants small amounts of either natural or pasteurized milk and measured how their digestive systems respo…

This study tested a new, noninvasive device that uses light to monitor brain activity, blood flow, and oxygen use in extremely premature babies. Researchers followed 100 infants born before 29 weeks to see if the device could safely detect problems that might lead to bleeding in …

This study looked at whether a web-based parent training program, with or without phone coaching, helps parents of toddlers born very premature (before 32 weeks) improve their parenting skills and reduce their child's behavior problems. About 220 parents of toddlers aged 20-30 mo…

This study followed 603 pregnant women in South Africa to see if infections in the genital tract are linked to giving birth earlier. Researchers collected swabs to test for various infections and analyzed the vaginal microbiome. The goal was to understand which germs or combinati…

This study looked at how lung volume changes when stable preterm infants are placed in car seats. Researchers used a special imaging technique to measure breathing in 51 babies born before 37 weeks. The goal was to understand if the semi-upright car seat position affects lung aer…

This study tested if playing recordings of a mother's voice to preterm infants in the NICU helps their brain and language development. 57 babies born very early took part. Researchers measured language skills and brain scans to see if the voice recordings made a difference.