Monitoring pregnant women at home for detecting preterm labour

Cochrane: Babies who are born too early are more likely to become ill or die. If preterm labour is detected, treatment can start to slow down or stop labour. This also gives time for treatment to improve the baby’s breathing at birth. Increased contractions can be a sign of labour starting early. Many women do not recognise these contractions in time for treatment. Pregnant women at risk of giving birth early could use a monitoring device at home. This would send data to the hospital, and help doctors and midwives to detect and treat preterm labour.

Bacteria in the Cervix May be Key to Understanding Premature Birth

Pennsylvania: Depending on the specific type, bacteria in a woman’s vagina and cervix may increase the risk of premature birth or protect against it, according to new research from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. Results of the study provide groundbreaking information that the authors suggest could help physicians learn how to prevent preterm birth, either by eliminating the “bad” bacteria, or increasing the “protective” bacteria. The study was presented this week at the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine’s annual meeting in Las Vegas, and received the March of Dimes Award for Best Abstract on Prematurity.

Premature babies – are we doing the right thing?

Deakin: A Deakin University law academic has questioned if we are doing the right thing by saving the lives of extremely premature babies. In a new book based on research conducted for her PhD, Deakin Law School academic Dr Neera Bhatia explores the legal and ethical issues surrounding decisions to withdraw or withhold life-sustaining treatment for babies born on the edge of viability (23 weeks) and addresses the controversial question, are some lives too expensive to treat?

Show us your BabyFace: researchers appeal for help from new parents

Nottingham: A new app launched by The University of Nottingham is offering parents of newborn infants the chance to play a crucial role in research that could save the lives of premature babies in the developing world. BabyFace will ask parents of babies up to 21 days old to upload anonymous images of their baby’s feet, face and ears, as well as information about their date of birth and their gestational age — how many days/weeks early or late they were born. The app specifically covers babies born anywhere between 28 days early up to 14 days late and will allow the researchers to build the first detailed database of the distinctive features that are present at different stages of gestational development.

Survival of very premature infants is improving in France: First results of the EPIPAGE 2 study

INSERM France: Since 2011, nearly 7,000 premature infants have been enrolled in the EPIPAGE 2 study. This study is aimed at assessing the survival of infants born between 22 and 34 weeks’ gestation, and their subsequent outcomes. Compared with data from the EPIPAGE 1 cohort in 1997, the proportion of infants born in 2011 from the 25th week of gestation, who survived without severe neonatal disease, showed a definite increase. 

Vitamin E protects against liver damage in parenterally fed premature pigs

Baylor. US: Adding vitamin E (α-tocopherol) to lipid emulsions used to feed premature pigs intravenously (parenteral nutrition) prevents liver damage, said researchers at the USDA/ARS Children Nutrition Research Center at Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children’s Hospital. Many of the more than 500,000 infants born prematurely in the United States each year rely on intravenous nutrition support.

Inflatable MRI Scanner

King’s College London (UK) has become the first London university to acquire an inflatable MRI scanner to help children overcome their anxiety and practice lying still for 30 minutes before they enter a real MRI scanner.