A professor of pediatrics has described how most babies that are born prematurely will survive and “do very well.”

Speaking to Medical News Today, Dr Mark Mecurio, who is the Director of the Programme for Biomedical Ethics and the Director of the Yale Pediatrics Ethics Programme, described how the outcome for tiny premature babies has greatly improved over the past 50 years.

Dr Mecurio said: “The most important thing for parents to know is that most of these children will survive and most will do very well. There will be some who will not survive, and there will be some who will have long-term issues. But they are a small percentage overall.”

The professor described how over the course of his career, the treatment and care of premature babies has evolved greatly. Studies suggest that significant improvements in survival rates can be achieved when maternity and neonatal units provide consistent staffing, resources and treatment policies.

SPUC comment

A SPUC spokesperson said: “Hearing experts speak optimistically of the survival rates for tiny premature children brings us so much hope and encouragement.

“Advances in medical care at the beginning of life have truly transformed the prospects of survival for premature babies. Evidence now indicates that 35% of babies born four months premature at 22 weeks old now survive if treated.

“Given the chance, life can find a way to thrive.”