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20th November 2023
04:50pm GMT
NICU patients and their families gathered to celebrate World Prematurity Day at The National Maternity Hospital.
Marked around the world each year on November 17th, it aims to raise awareness of the challenges of preterm birth.
To mark World Prematurity Day, the hospital launched its neonatal ACORN (Allied Care of at Risk Newborns) therapy programme for babies in its Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).
The programme is run by the hospital’s ACORN Team, a group of healthcare professionals skilled in preterm development who work with the Neonatal Medical and Nursing Team in caring for NICU babies.
The National Maternity Hospital’s ACORN Programme was launched at the hospital’s Coffee Morning to mark World Prematurity Day and was supported by The NMH Foundation.
Parents whose children were cared for in The National Maternity Hospital NICU attended the launch.
Mums and dads connected and shared their stories with each other at the heart-warming event.
They also connected with neonatal nurses, midwives, allied health professionals and doctors from The National Maternity Hospital.
What a fantastic time we had at The NMH today for our #WorldPrematurityDay Coffee Morning! Thank you to all parents and NICU graduates who joined us to mark the day. We loved meeting you all again 💜@helpinghollesst pic.twitter.com/ztFYBxOGvh
— The National Maternity Hospital (@_TheNMH) November 17, 2023
Each year, more than 4,500 pregnant women in Ireland give birth prematurely. The National Maternity Hospital neonatal service is a recognised centre of excellence.
It receives referrals for acutely ill and preterm babies from across the country.
In 2022, the NMH NICU cared for 1,132 babies.
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