Today is World Prematurity Day

Around 60,000 children are born prematurely in Germany every year. This means that one in ten newborns is premature.

What sounds cute actually means considerable risks to healthy survival for around 9,000 of these prematurely born children. They weigh less than 1,500 grams when they are born prematurely and are usually born before 32 weeks' gestation. A mature baby born after around 40 weeks' gestation weighs more than twice as much at birth. If a child is born prematurely, this presents parents with a major challenge.

On World Premature Baby Day, prominent landmarks around the world such as castles, palaces, city gates, towers and bridges are illuminated in the color purple to draw attention to the special situation of the very youngest babies. Jena will also be illuminated in this way today.

Help for affected families

In the Jena Early Help Network, numerous players cooperate to support parents in developmental and educational issues at an early stage.

Parents and their prematurely born children can find advice and support at various locations in Jena:

• Social-medical aftercare at the UKJ Jena
• Family guides at the UKJ Jena
• Premature baby group "Kleine Wunder Jena" via the UKJ Jena
• Social Pediatric Center (SPZ) of the UKJ Jena
• First visit service of the city of Jena
• Early intervention center of QuerWege e.V.
• EarlyBorn" initiative
• (Family) midwives