Multiple births, work stress and delayed maternity increases the rate of premature births

One in ten babies born in the world do so prematurely. "In Spain," says Dr. Adalgisa de Caro, pediatrician of the Pediatric Service of the Hospital Quirónsalud Murcia, "one of every thirteen births is performed preterm, which makes us one of the European countries with the highest rate of premature babies."

According to the National Institute of Statistics, the number of births before the 37th week of pregnancy has increased by 36% since 1996. Among the causes that favor this prematurity, Dr. De Caro highlights multiple births, work stress, health problems in the mother and the delay of motherhood.

In our country 95% of premature babies with more than 28 weeks survive. In addition, the progress of modern neonatology has allowed extreme premature babies, those born before 28 weeks, survive by 65%, also improving the rates of extremely premature babies. According to the Spanish Society of Neonatology, the current survival of premature babies under 25 weeks is already higher than 60%. "These data", reveals Dr. Sandra Salas, neonatologist of theComprehensive Pediatric Service of Hospital Quirónsalud Valencia, , "place us in the world elite of the field of Neonatology, in a better position even than the United States".

Advances in the Neonatal ICUs

"The development of modern neonatal care technology" explains Dr. De Caro "as well as the availability of highly specialized and qualified health professionals has made the survival rates and the sequelae in premature babies have improved significantly, although also noteworthy are the important results achieved with the implementation of neonatal ICUs with open doors and the skin-to-skin contact of the baby with the mother or father ".

It is demonstrated that the involvement of parents in the care of their premature child reduces the length of their hospital stay, improves the well-being of the patient and family, stimulates the bond and improves the rates of breastfeeding.

The Hospitals of Quirónsalud Valencia and Murcia offer parents their open-door Neonatal ICUs to promote the presence of the family as long as possible, trying to make the baby kangaroo for most of the day, in skin-to-skin contact with the mother or father "The benefits of this method are innumerable," says Dr. Salas, "and some as important as greater stability in vital signs and better brain development. There is no better incubator than the human body. In addition, we try to ensure that parents take care of progressively all the care of their children, moving to a family room when the patient's stability allows it. "