PREMATURE BIRTH

This study looks at whether giving pregnant people at risk of preterm birth a single half-dose of a steroid called Celestone works as well as the usual double dose to prevent serious health problems in their babies. About 3,250 participants will be randomly assigned to receive ei…

This study tests if giving surfactant (a natural substance that helps lungs stay open) through a less invasive method helps premature babies with breathing problems survive. About 1,500 babies weighing 1.5 to 4.4 pounds will receive this treatment in African hospitals that lack b…

This study tests whether using an air purifier at home can help preterm babies (born before 37 weeks) breathe better and develop healthier lungs. Researchers will measure indoor air quality and the babies' oxygen levels, breathing, and growth over time. 180 infants will take part…

This study tests whether adding azithromycin to the standard antibiotic ampicillin can reduce serious health problems in newborns when a mother's water breaks early (between 34 and 37 weeks). About 311 women with a single pregnancy will receive either ampicillin alone or ampicill…

This study tests whether placing a stitch (cerclage) in the cervix can lower the chance of preterm birth in pregnant people with a short cervix (≤25mm) detected between 24-26 weeks. About 329 participants will be randomly assigned to receive the stitch or standard care. The main …

This study tests whether extra support from a doula—both in the hospital and after going home—can help mothers of very premature babies feel less stressed, depressed, or anxious. About 20 mothers will be randomly assigned to receive this support or standard care. The goal is to s…

This study tests two simple methods—mouth exercises and a day-night feeding schedule—to help preterm babies (born 29-33 weeks) learn to feed by mouth and gain weight. Researchers will track 54 babies to see if these approaches improve feeding readiness and shorten the time to ful…

This study tests whether a gentle nerve stimulation (taVNS) given during breastfeeding can help premature or sick newborns learn to breastfeed more effectively. Ten infants in the NICU will receive daily stimulation paired with feeding for up to 14 days. Researchers will measure …

This study is creating a large registry of extremely premature infants born at 22-23 weeks of pregnancy. Researchers will collect information on the care these babies receive and their outcomes. The goal is to learn what practices work best for this vulnerable group. No new treat…

This study tests whether a virtual version of the Abecedarian Approach, an early childhood education program, can help children ages 0-5 who had hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) or were born very prematurely. Researchers will enroll 225 families and measure parent satisfacti…

This study is a patient registry for women diagnosed with Preterm Premature Rupture of Membranes (PPROM) before 37 weeks of pregnancy. Researchers will collect data from 3,000 participants to identify possible causes, evaluate care trends, and review short- and long-term outcomes…

This study tests an iPad app called Periviable GOALS that helps parents facing a very early preterm birth (22-25 weeks) understand their options and clarify their values. The app includes videos and outcome information designed for people with varying literacy levels. Researchers…

This study aims to improve the way doctors counsel families when a baby may be born extremely early (between 22 and 25 weeks of pregnancy). Researchers will train doctors in better communication skills and then ask parents about their knowledge, satisfaction, and anxiety after co…

This study aims to understand how air pollution impacts pregnancy and the risk of preterm birth. Researchers will use artificial intelligence to analyze health records from 18,000 pregnant women in London, combined with pollution data. The goal is to create a model that predicts …

This study is creating a large collection of health data and biological samples from very preterm infants (born before 32 weeks or weighing under 1500 grams). Researchers will follow these children for years to identify factors that influence their development and long-term healt…

This study looks at how a pregnant woman's body handles caffeine and how much of it reaches her unborn baby. Researchers will give a small dose of caffeine to 30 women at risk of preterm delivery before a planned C-section. Blood samples from the mother, placenta, and newborn wil…

This study is testing a special camera (Mueller polarimetric colposcopy) to see if it can measure changes in the cervix during pregnancy. The goal is to find patterns that could help predict if a baby will be born early (preterm). Researchers will study 683 pregnant women, both w…

This study tests a special pacifier that plays a mother's voice when a preterm baby sucks on it. The goal is to see if this helps babies born early learn to tell different speech sounds apart, which could improve their language development. About 200 preterm infants in the NICU w…

This study looks at how being born moderately early (32-36 weeks) affects the way babies' brains process speech sounds and learn words. Researchers will measure brain activity using EEG while babies listen to syllables, and track their vocabulary growth over time. The goal is to …

This study looks at how babies' brains develop after an injury around birth. Researchers will use fun games and brain wave tests (EEG) to see if they can predict which children might have trouble with thinking and memory later. About 100 babies, both healthy and those with brain …