All Premature Babies Born At 28 Weeks At Rotunda Hospital Survive For The First Time In History

Amazing news from the Rotunda Hospital as it marked World Prematurity Day on Saturday.

One hundred per cent of premature babies born at 28 weeks at the hospital survived in 2017, a historical moment for the Maternity Hospital.

Two hundred babies were born at 28 weeks last year at the hospital, and every baby survived with thanks to the success of drug and treatment plans.

In previous years, survival rate of babies born at 28 weeks was 95%, with ten more babies saved this year than previous years.

The hospital celebrated World Prematurity Day on Saturday with a party for children born under 1500 grams in 2016.

Master of the Rotunda Prof Fergal Malone said: "The 100pc figure accounts for 10 more babies' lives being saved.

"That's amazing for the babies, their families and the children's long-term health."

The Hospital is also celebrating its Tentacles for Tinies campaign - an initiative that encourages volunteers to knit octopus toys for premature babies in neonatal units.

The octopus toy is believed to be of extra comfort to the teenchy tiny babies as the tentacles remind them of the umbilical cord and being inside the mother's womb.

It also helps to prevent the babies from touching or trying to pull out their tubes as they have something to distract their hands instead.

The pattern for the octopus toy can be found on the Rotunda Knitters Facebook page, and volunteers are asked to please ensure they follow the guidelines exactly - considering how small and vulnerable to premature babies are, the stitches have to be tight enough that the stuffing doesn't fall out, and tentacles must be a certain length so they don't wrap around any medical wires.