Thread by @WHO

Today is #WorldPrematurityDay.

Approximately 1⃣ million children around 🌎🌍🌏 die each year due to complications from #preterm birth, and survivors may face a lifetime of ill-health.

1⃣ in 🔟 babies around the world are born #preterm - before 37 weeks of 🤰.
 
Complications from prematurity is the leading cause of death for children under 5. Health service disruptions due to #COVID19 may have further devastating impacts & push back progress. 📸 @UNICEF

While most #preterm babies survive in high-income countries, in low- and middle-income countries a lack of adequate newborn care puts the lives of many preterm babies at risk #BornTooSoon 👉 bit.ly/3pADpeC

To improve survival of low-birth or #preterm babies, WHO recommends ‘kangaroo mother care’ or continuous skin-to-skin contact between mothers and babies, and exclusive breastfeeding 🤱, as soon as they are born.

More than 75% of #preterm babies can be saved with feasible, cost-effective care, including:

🩺 essential care during childbirth & in the postnatal period
💉provision of antenatal steroids
🦘kangaroo mother care
💊 antibiotics to treat infections.

👉bit.ly/3kzREN1

To help women enjoy good health before & throughout 🤰, and reduce risks of #preterm births, WHO recommends measures such as:

🍎 counselling on healthy diet and optimal nutrition
🚭 preventing tobacco and substance use
👩‍⚕️ quality, and respectful antenatal care

Small & sick newborns have specific health, physical, psychosocial & developmental needs.

WHO standards of care for small and sick newborns recognize those needs and aim to ensure they are met in health facilities 👉 bit.ly/36HskQb

Every newborn chance to thrive is the direct result of quality maternal and newborn health care, including nurturing care from the time of birth. Limiting the time a newborn is separated from their mother helps the baby grow and develop👩‍🍼.

#Preterm newborns are more at risk of sepsis.

Skin-to-skin care straight after birth can support breastfeeding, helping vulnerable newborns get an important immune boost from colostrum, the first milk a woman produces after childbirth 👉bit.ly/3iWCDDX

When parents 👨‍🍼👩‍🍼 are allowed to stay with their newborns, it promotes early and effective breastfeeding, including for low birthweight and #preterm babies.

Separating parents and babies immediately after childbirth should be discouraged 👉bit.ly/2JNg6xt