World Prematurity Day It's World Prematurity Day. This year's theme is "A parent's embrace; a powerful therapy" which highlights the importance of skin-to-skin for babies born before 37 weeks or under 2.5kg. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has just launched new guidelines that encourage kangaroo care immediately after birth which is a significant change from past clinical practice where preemie babies were placed in an incubator. Kangaroo care is powerful therapy because of its immense health benefits. It can: - regulate a baby's heartbeat and breathing - improve oxygen saturation levels - help to maintain body temperature One in ten babies in Australia are born premature and approximately 15 per cent of all babies require some form of extra care at birth. It can be an incredibly stressful time for new parents who are navigating unknowns and coming to terms with a significant change of plan. I've interviewed many mums of preemie babies on the podcast and there's one common piece of advice they all share: take it one day at a time and make sure you go outside for fresh air and sunshine. If you know someone who currently has a baby in NICU, there are a few practical ways you can support them: - drive them to and from the hospital because it gives them time to have a good chat and avoid parking fees - make them nourishing comfort food / start a meal train - go to their house and do the washing and a few chores - deliver coffee and yummy snacks to the hospital - send them a message to tell them you're thinking of them (but you don't expect a reply in return)