New Oxford developed resource for parents of premature babies

The series, called My Baby’s Brain, has been developed to support parents understanding of babies brain development.

Marianne van der Vaart and Caroline Hartley (Department of Paediatrics), Emily Byrne, Christine Headford and Martin Realey (SSNAP)
Author: Andrea FoxPublished 28th Feb 2024

A series of animations have been launched, aimed at improving parents understanding of brain development in premature infants, and the effect it has on breathing and apnoeas (when they stop breathing).

The series, called My Baby’s Brain, has been developed to support parents of premature babies, enabling them to understand why premature babies have apnoeas, the treatment they receive, and the equipment that is used.

My Baby’s Brain is a free, online resource that was created in collaboration with parents of premature babies alongside SSNAP (Supporting Sick Newborns and their Parents), a charity based in the Newborn Care Unit at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford.

Lauren Young, mother to Georgie, (age 7 and born at 40 weeks) and to Rosie (age 3 and born at 24 weeks), and also part of the Family Care Team at SSNAP, was part of the parent group that led to the creation of the series.

She had a “traumatic, exhausting and long hospital stay of nearly 6 months” following the birth of her youngest daughter, and proactively wanted to help neonatal research and development. She says:

“I feel strongly that anything helping parents to process the information, feel more comfortable with their surroundings and the care that their child is receiving, can go a really long way to helping them on the journey.”

“These animations will be so helpful to parents and families with premature babies. They will help them to understand the reasons their baby is needing the care they receive and give a very clear picture of equipment used, as well as a soft introduction to language and terminology they may hear along their journey. ”

Caroline Hartley Department of Paediatrics

In the UK, 1 in 13 babies is born prematurely. Apnoea of prematurity is a common problem in neonatal care, affecting around 50 percent of premature infants.

Professor Hartley from the Department of Paediatrics says: “Apnoeas are well-managed by the clinical team but can be worrying for parents. These animations have been put together with parents in mind, to give parents of premature babies a better understanding of how apnoea is linked to the immaturity of a premature infant’s brain, and the techniques researchers use to investigate brain development."

My Baby’s Brain will be available to all parents to premature infants on neonatal units at the John Radcliffe Hospital, and across the country.

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