World Prematurity Day Australia

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World Prematurity Day Australia November 15 is World Prematurity Day when we focus everyone’s attention on the global problem of premature birth. Join us in raising awareness in Australia

This page is ran by the Preterm Infants Parents Association Inc (P**A). P**A seeks to raise awareness of preterm birth by promoting World Prematurity Day each year not just to those families who have experienced preterm birth but to the community as a whole. P**A also seeks to educate the public about the costs of preterm birth, the state of play of preterm birth in countries around the world and important research being done to prevent preterm birth and improve the health outcomes of those babies born too soon, too small or too sick.

Latest update from the Australian Preterm and Early Birth Prevention Alliance ( Every Week Counts ) Australian Preterm B...
16/10/2026

Latest update from the Australian Preterm and Early Birth Prevention Alliance ( Every Week Counts )
Australian Preterm Birth Prevention Alliance

Have you given birth to a baby that was admitted to the neonatal Intensive Care Nursery (ICN) in the past 12 months? Did...
10/10/2026

Have you given birth to a baby that was admitted to the neonatal Intensive Care Nursery (ICN) in the past 12 months? Did you have to relocate from your home in a remote, rural or regional area to care for your baby? If yes, please agree to be involved in this important research being done by Federation University in Victoria.
The research aims to explore resource loss, gain and resilience among women who reside in regional, rural and remote areas (RRRAs) of Australia, when their preterm infant is admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). NICU’s are generally located in the metropolitan area and given that more than 80% of preterm infants are from RRRAs, this means that many women (mothers) are required to temporarily relocate to the metropolitan area so they can bond, provide care and feeding/breastmilk to their infants. From listening to the voices of women from their own experience, this research will help us better understand how women manage resources and supports during this time, and how they cope when they are unable to access resources/supports that they need. The findings can improve care for women and their families by informing health organisations, policy makers and clinicians about how to best care for women with a preterm infant in the NICU, who are displaced from their place of residence.

A New Date, A Stronger Global Movement – November 15Beginning in 2026, World Prematurity Day will be observed on Novembe...
03/10/2026

A New Date, A Stronger Global Movement – November 15
Beginning in 2026, World Prematurity Day will be observed on November 15.
For many in the prem parent and medical community, November 17 has long been a meaningful and familiar date - a day marked in purple, filled with stories, remembrance, advocacy, hope, and solidarity. Changing that date is significant, and it may take time for the community to adjust.
This change was made as part of the process of officially incorporating World Prematurity Day into the WHO calendar, as November 17 is already dedicated to World Cervical Cancer Elimination Day. To ensure that both important health topics can receive the global attention they deserve, a new date was needed. From 2026 onward, the global preterm community will come together on November 15.
While the date is changing, the heart of World Prematurity Day remains the same. Its origins, its meaning, and its mission continue unchanged. World Prematurity Day was first initiated in 2008 and first celebrated in 2009, inspired by hope, resilience, and the urgent need to improve care and support for babies born too soon and their families.
Today, that mission is just as important as ever. By moving to November 15 and joining the WHO calendar, World Prematurity Day gains a bigger global voice – one that can help strengthen advocacy, expand awareness, and drive action for preterm babies and their families worldwide.

World Prematurity Day (WPD) 2025 - pictures from around the globe. Get ready to go purple for WPD 2026.
02/10/2026

World Prematurity Day (WPD) 2025 - pictures from around the globe. Get ready to go purple for WPD 2026.

In the lead up to World Prematurity Day on 15 November here are some global stats from the World Health Organisation (WH...
09/09/2026

In the lead up to World Prematurity Day on 15 November here are some global stats from the World Health Organisation (WHO) and Neopedia (a global information platform for families of babies born preterm or sick).
• In 2022, sub-Saharan Africa made up 57% of deaths under-5 years (around 2.8 million), even though only 30% of global births happen there. This region has the highest newborn death rate, with 27 deaths per 1,000 births, followed by central and southern Asia, with 21 deaths per 1,000 births.
• Australia and New Zealand have the lowest neonatal mortality rates globally.
• The most common challenges for newborns include being born preterm, problems during birth, infections, and certain conditions present at birth. These cases contribute to nearly 40% of deaths among children under 5 years.
• Mothers who receive care from midwives trained to international standards are 16% less likely to lose their babies and 24% less likely to give birth too early.
• Globally most babies die within the first 28 days because they did not receive adequate care during birth or proper skilled care right after birth and in their early days. (World Health Organization)

❓ 𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐢𝐬 𝐍𝐈𝐂𝐔 𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐬𝐨 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭?For many, the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) is something they never think abo...
07/09/2026

❓ 𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐢𝐬 𝐍𝐈𝐂𝐔 𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐬𝐨 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭?
For many, the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) is something they never think about until their own baby needs it. Yet every year, up to 30 million newborns worldwide receive some level of NICU care because they are born preterm, too small, or sick. 🌍💜
A NICU stay can be one of the most challenging experiences a family will ever face. It often brings fear, uncertainty, and emotional stress – abruptly changing parents’ hopes and dreams about how their new family life will begin. At the same time, the NICU is also a place of hope, where dedicated healthcare professionals work every day to give the smallest and sickest babies the best possible start in life. 🌱
✨ Why is NICU awareness so important?
🔹 It helps people understand the realities of NICU families.
Many parents return home carrying invisible emotional, physical, and financial burdens. Greater awareness encourages empathy, understanding, and meaningful support.
🔹 It highlights the importance of family-centered care.
Parents are essential members of their baby’s care team in the NICU. Supporting parent involvement benefits babies, families, and healthcare professionals alike, and it is associated with better outcomes, including improved weight gain, higher breastfeeding rates, and fewer hospital readmissions.
🔹 It promotes better care for every baby.
Awareness helps advocate for access to high-quality neonatal care, evidence-based practices, and long-term developmental follow-up while recognizing that access to these services varies by region and healthcare setting.

Enjoy your Day.
05/09/2026

Enjoy your Day.

23/08/2026

Was your prem born between 22 to 25 weeks gestation? Can you help with this important survey?
The Perinatal Epidemiology Group at The University of Melbourne, which includes obstetricians, midwives and pregnancy researchers is undertaking a research project to examine the outcomes (both risks and benefits) following caesarean compared with vaginal birth for mums and babies at very early gestational age – 22 to 25 weeks. This is a much under-researched area and despite becoming an increasingly common scenario in clinical practice, very little is understood about the impact of mode of birth at this gestation. The survey is designed to better understand what matters most to parents and families facing the possibility of having a baby born extremely early (before 25+6 weeks). It aims to gather your views, experiences, and priorities—especially around the information and support you need to help make difficult decisions about your care and how your baby will be delivered. By listening directly to families, the survey will help ensure that our broader research focuses on the questions and outcomes that are most important to you, ultimately helping improve how clinicians communicate and support parents and their babies’ during these challenging situations. Survey URL here: https://redcap.link/oxst6itx
Further information contact : [email protected], P +61432544100
Epidemiology Group | Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology , Mercy Hospital for Women

23/08/2026

Research has found there is a need to increase positive auditory input such as parent / infant directed speech in private NICU rooms. Too much noise and not enough nurturing speech is not good for prem babies

07/08/2026

As mentioned in a previous post 2026 World Breastfeeding Week focuses on strengthening what works and Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) works. KMC is an evidence-based model of care for preterm and low-birthweight babies. It involves early, continuous, and prolonged skin-to-skin contact between a parent and baby, along with support for breastfeeding. In practice, this means holding your baby skin-to-skin on your chest as early as possible, for as long as possible, and as often as possible – ideally, 8–24 hours each day. Every hour of skin-to-skin contact matters!
Although it may look simple, KMC has powerful, proven effects on both you and your baby.
KMC promotes breast milk production: When your baby lies on your chest, your body releases hormones, such as oxytocin. This helps your milk “come in” and maintains a steady milk supply. Studies show that KMC can improve breastfeeding success and help mothers breastfeed for longer.
KMC supports your baby’s feeding instincts: Your smell, warmth, and heartbeat are signals that naturally trigger instincts such as rooting and searching for the breast.
KMC helps stabilize your NICU baby: In the NICU, KMC helps babies stay warm, calm, and stable. This allows them to use their energy for growth, development, and learning to feed, instead of struggling to regulate their body functions.
KMC strengthens bonding: Skin-to-skin contact reduces stress for both you and your baby and helps you bond, even in a challenging environment like the NICU. This close bond can also support breastfeeding.
All of this is especially important for babies born too soon or sick.
Many of them are not yet able to coordinate sucking, swallowing, and breathing. KMC helps babies stay calm and physiologically stable, which supports the development of feeding readiness and helps prepare them for breastfeeding.
By supporting breastfeeding, promoting feeding readiness, and keeping families together, KMC helps give babies the best possible start in life.
Sometimes, what works best is simply keeping parents and babies together.

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