PREMATURE BIRTH

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 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 participated, and researchers compared their outcomes to those r…

This study tested two forms of progesterone—vaginal gel and intramuscular shots—to see which is better at preventing another preterm birth in women who have had one before. The trial included 210 pregnant women with a single baby and a history of spontaneous preterm birth. Resear…

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

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 looked at whether placing a feeding tube directly into the small intestine (duodenum) is safe and doable for very low birth weight premature infants. These babies often have underdeveloped lungs and are at risk for reflux that can worsen lung damage. The goal was to se…

This study looked at whether a web-based program called ezParent, with or without extra phone coaching, helps parents of toddlers born very preterm (before 32 weeks). About 452 parents took part, and researchers checked parenting skills, stress, and child behavior over 12 months.…

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

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 medical records of 250,000 preterm infants born before 37 weeks in England and Wales. Researchers wanted to find out when babies become healthy enough to go home and why some stay in the hospital longer than needed. The goal is to help families and the NHS sa…

This study looked at how different vaginal infections and bacteria might affect when a baby is born. Researchers followed 603 pregnant women in South Africa, testing for infections and measuring bacteria. The goal was to see which germs are linked to earlier births, but no treatm…

This study looked at 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. They measured language skills and brain scans to see if the voice re…

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 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…