PREMATURE BIRTH

This study looked at whether starting kangaroo mother care (skin-to-skin contact and breastfeeding support) within the first 24 hours helps healthy preterm babies born weighing less than 2000 grams. 100 infants were randomly assigned to early kangaroo care or standard care. Resea…

This study tested whether a silicone vaginal pessary or natural progesterone is better at preventing early birth in pregnant women whose cervix is 25 mm or shorter. 203 women with a single baby between 20 and 24 weeks of pregnancy took part. The goal was to see which treatment re…

This study tested two forms of progesterone—vaginal gel and intramuscular shots—to see which better prevents another early birth in women who have already had a preterm baby. 210 pregnant women with a prior preterm birth took part. The goal was to find if the vaginal form is more…

This study tested whether a group-based prenatal program called Centering Pregnancy, combined with a care navigator, could improve pregnancy outcomes for Marshallese women. 38 pregnant women participated, and researchers looked at rates of preterm birth, low birthweight, and C-se…

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 either watched calming VR nature videos before expressing milk…

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

This study looked at medical records of 250,000 preterm babies born in England and Wales to find out when they become healthy enough to leave the hospital. Researchers tracked when each baby could breathe on their own, eat by mouth, and reach a healthy weight. They also measured …

This study tested whether playing recordings of a mother's voice to preterm babies in the NICU helps their brain and language development. Researchers enrolled 57 preterm infants born between 24 and 31 weeks. The goal was to see if this simple, non-invasive intervention could imp…

This study tested a new, safe way to monitor brain health in 100 extremely premature babies (born before 29 weeks). The device uses light to measure blood flow and oxygen use in the brain. Researchers hope this will help doctors spot problems early and improve care for these frag…

This study looked at how premature babies (born before 37 weeks) respond to different types of breathing support, like CPAP or high-flow nasal cannula. Researchers tracked how long babies needed support and checked for lung problems. The goal was to gather information, not to tes…

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

This study looked at whether a web-based parent training program, with or without telephone coaching, helps parents of toddlers born very premature. About 220 parents took part and were split into four groups to compare the effects on parenting skills and child behavior over a ye…

This study looked at whether natural (unprocessed) milk or pasteurized milk helps the gut mature faster in very premature babies born between 28 and 30 weeks. Fifty-five infants were given small amounts of either natural or pasteurized milk to see how their digestive systems resp…

This study looked at 603 pregnant women in South Africa to see if infections in the genital tract are linked to giving birth earlier. Researchers tested for various germs and yeast at the start of pregnancy and again later. The goal was to understand which infections or combinati…

This study tested if having parents control a syringe to feed their premature baby (instead of using a machine) encourages them to spend more time in the neonatal unit. It involved 72 premature infants born between 30 and 34 weeks. The main goal was to compare how many hours pare…

This study looked at whether feeding very low birth weight premature babies directly into the small intestine (duodenum) is safe and doable. The goal is to reduce stomach reflux that can worsen lung damage. 24 infants were enrolled to test tube placement success and check for com…