Every year, 15 million babies around the world are born preterm, before 37 weeks of gestation1. That is 1 out of 10. And the number is rising. In the Nordics, about 6-7% of babies are born premature2. Globally, preterm birth complications are the leading cause of death among children under 5 years of age3. However, technological advancements and growing expertise about prematurity are increasing preterm babies’ chances of survival.
November is Prematurity Awareness Month and we would like to raise awareness of the challenges related to preterm birth for babies, families and healthcare systems.
At GE Healthcare, we are partnering with the four Nordic prematurity organizations and EFCNI, the European foundation for the Care of Newborn Infants, to help ensure every baby has the best start. One of the most powerful treatments a newborn can receive is skin-to-skin contact with a parent. Join us and help raise awareness of skin-to-skin care.
November is Prematurity Awareness Month and we would like to raise awareness of the challenges related to preterm birth for babies, families and healthcare systems.
At GE Healthcare, we are partnering with the four Nordic prematurity organizations and EFCNI, the European foundation for the Care of Newborn Infants, to help ensure every baby has the best start. One of the most powerful treatments a newborn can receive is skin-to-skin contact with a parent. Join us and help raise awareness of skin-to-skin care.
World Prematurity Day November 17th
World Prematurity Day is an important day of the year to raise awareness of the challenges and burden of preterm birth.
On World Prematurity Day, we recognize you for the incredible work you do on a daily basis. We see you and support you, not just with equipment and technology, but with a shared calling to care for premature babies and their moms.
On November 17th, we go purple. Purple stands for sensitivity and exceptionality and has become a common symbol to mark the day. Individuals and organizations in the Nordics and the rest of the world arrange events, activities and are committed to help address preterm birth and to improve the situation for preterm babies and their families. Everyone is invited to join this day.
Join us to spread awareness. Go purple!
On World Prematurity Day, we recognize you for the incredible work you do on a daily basis. We see you and support you, not just with equipment and technology, but with a shared calling to care for premature babies and their moms.
On November 17th, we go purple. Purple stands for sensitivity and exceptionality and has become a common symbol to mark the day. Individuals and organizations in the Nordics and the rest of the world arrange events, activities and are committed to help address preterm birth and to improve the situation for preterm babies and their families. Everyone is invited to join this day.
Join us to spread awareness. Go purple!
World Prematurity Day November 17th
World Prematurity Day is an important day of the year to raise awareness of the challenges and burden of preterm birth.
On World Prematurity Day, we recognize you for the incredible work you do on a daily basis. We see you and support you, not just with equipment and technology, but with a shared calling to care for premature babies and their moms.
On November 17th, we go purple. Purple stands for sensitivity and exceptionality and has become a common symbol to mark the day. Individuals and organizations in the Nordics and the rest of the world arrange events, activities and are committed to help address preterm birth and to improve the situation for preterm babies and their families. Everyone is invited to join this day.
Join us to spread awareness. Go purple!
On World Prematurity Day, we recognize you for the incredible work you do on a daily basis. We see you and support you, not just with equipment and technology, but with a shared calling to care for premature babies and their moms.
On November 17th, we go purple. Purple stands for sensitivity and exceptionality and has become a common symbol to mark the day. Individuals and organizations in the Nordics and the rest of the world arrange events, activities and are committed to help address preterm birth and to improve the situation for preterm babies and their families. Everyone is invited to join this day.
Join us to spread awareness. Go purple!
Partnership with the Nordic Prematurity Organizations
ANETTE PÄRSSON KULLANDER
Chairman of the Swedish
Prematurity Organization,
Svenska Prematurförbundet
Chairman of the Swedish
Prematurity Organization,
Svenska Prematurförbundet
"On World Prematurity Day 2022, we at Svenska Prematurförbundet will keep our main focus on the subject, 'From intensive care to going home'. On November 17th, there will be seminars with different interpretations of our main subject. One location will raise the subject that our preemies are moved between different hospitals and NICU’s due to lack of space in some hospitals. This also leads them to the discussion about zero separation. World Prematurity Day is a perfect way to raise awareness about our preemies. We, and I, truly care about the wellbeing and care of our tiniest babies."
MORE INFO
Web: prematurforbundet.se
Facebook: Prematurförbundet
MORE INFO
Web: prematurforbundet.se
Facebook: Prematurförbundet
ELIZABETH PÖCKEL
Chairman of the Danish
Prematurity Organization,
Dansk Præmatur Forening
Chairman of the Danish
Prematurity Organization,
Dansk Præmatur Forening
“Our focus is on supporting families with premature children and the professionals who support them. We also help spread knowledge about their special needs throughout childhood and the constant research being undertaken. On November 17th, we send a package with gifts for families in the NICUs with a thank you to the staff. We have online activities including a Facebook page where parents can thank the nurses and doctors who supported them during their stressful stay in the NICU. This year our focus is on promoting the importance of skin-to-skin contact between the parents and their young infants.”
MORE INFO
Web: praematur.dk
Facebook: Dansk Præmaturforening
MORE INFO
Web: praematur.dk
Facebook: Dansk Præmaturforening
HEGE NORDHUS
Chairman of the Norwegian
Prematurity Organization,
Prematurforeningen
Chairman of the Norwegian
Prematurity Organization,
Prematurforeningen
"World Prematurity Day is for me an important day for reflection, but also for looking ahead. Finally, the day is for celebrating all that we have achieved. Not everyone is with us anymore, so we also remember those who became a star in the sky."
"I started volunteering for Prematurforeningen, because I had a child who was born prematurely myself. She was born in week 27+5 and is 14 years old now. After working voluntarily for a while, I got the opportunity to work here permanently. I never doubted that this is what I wanted. And I have worked in the association for 10 years now, and I'm still learning."
"I started volunteering for Prematurforeningen, because I had a child who was born prematurely myself. She was born in week 27+5 and is 14 years old now. After working voluntarily for a while, I got the opportunity to work here permanently. I never doubted that this is what I wanted. And I have worked in the association for 10 years now, and I'm still learning."
SARI VUORISTO
Chairman of the Finnish
Prematurity Organization,
Kevyt
Chairman of the Finnish
Prematurity Organization,
Kevyt
"For me, the prematurity day reminds of how small and fragile the beginning of a child’s life can be, to pay attention to preemie families who are affected by the prematurity and to embrace the neonatal staff who devotedly takes care of our precious babies."
"I volunteered and joined the association to contribute back. In the past, I’ve experienced peer support empowering. Supporting the families in an uncertain situation is supporting the child’s life. It’s important to let preemie families know that they are not alone – we are here for you."
MORE INFO
Web: kevyt.net
Facebook: keskosperheet
Instagram: keskosperheet
Swedish Prematurity Organization
Svenska Prematurförbundet – Forhindra,
Forklara, Förbättra
Activities
Svenska Prematurförbundet works to strengthen the voice of premature children in society through information, opinion formation and parental support. It pursues issues concerning the situation of premature children and their families, including for example prevention, neonatal care, preschool, school, maternity care and childcare. Prematurförbundet organizes webinars, podcasts and other events throughout the year and on World Prematurity Day.
About Svenska Prematurförbundet
Svenska Prematurförbundet is a non-profit organization consisting of local associations from different parts of Sweden. Their heart’s desire is to improve the situation of premature babies and their families.
Svenska Prematurförbundet is a non-profit organization consisting of local associations from different parts of Sweden. Their heart’s desire is to improve the situation of premature babies and their families.
Danish Prematurity Organization
Dansk Præmatur Forening - En for tidlig start på livet
Activities
Dansk Præmatur Forening actively interfers in the media debate, influences politicians, publishes information material and motivates more to research. Other activities include telephone support, local community groups, premature publications, press releases and helping families and institutions that need it.
About Dansk Præmatur Forening
The Danish prematurity organization was established in May 2000, on the initiative of Jonna Jepsen, mother of extremely premature twins. She missed a place to turn about premature babies and founded the association together with a group of parents who were in the same situation. The organization is committed to drawing attention to premature birth and to inform and disseminate knowledge of premature children. The association is run by volunteers and is a forum where parents can be understood and get help navigating the health and school system if their child needs support.
The Danish prematurity organization was established in May 2000, on the initiative of Jonna Jepsen, mother of extremely premature twins. She missed a place to turn about premature babies and founded the association together with a group of parents who were in the same situation. The organization is committed to drawing attention to premature birth and to inform and disseminate knowledge of premature children. The association is run by volunteers and is a forum where parents can be understood and get help navigating the health and school system if their child needs support.
Norwegian Prematurity Organization
Prematurforeningen - Noen av de største miraklene i verden er ganske små
Activities
Prematurforeningen creates various materials about prematurity and the challenges involved to help institutions and support families. On World Prematurity day, the association coordinates purple lighting on various buildings and landmarks all over Norway and arranges local events to spread awareness around premature children.
"We are committed to drawing attention to premature birth. Our goal is to improve the lives of preterm children and their families. The crucial thing is not how much time, money or manpower you have. Even simple things can have an effect. Purple lighting, and a pair of tiny baby socks among the nine bigger baby socks, are common symbols of world premature day. We’ll have local seminars and activities on November 17th and make sure there’ll be purple lightning across Norway on this day."
Finnish Prematurity Organization
Kevyt - Keskosperheiden yhdistys
Activities
On World Prematurity Day 2022, Kevyt is arranging a seminar on the topic “Premature birth of a child is a crisis for a relationship – how to foster a relationship during a crisis?”. Kevyt is also organizing a remote peer support group for preemie families, and volunteers will meet parents in hospitals.
Kevyt’s additional activities include publications, social media channels and Facebook group for members, organization of events, peer support and peer group activities and collaboration with various professionals and volunteers. Annually, Kevyt selects the Premature Influencer of the Year based on proposals. The election is announced on World Prematurity Day on November 17th. On this day, Kevyt also organizes an annual event for preemie families in Finland with a changing theme.
GE Healthcare Perinatal Care
GE Healthcare’s Maternal-Infant Care business mission is “To help send moms and babies home healthy”, offering a complete portfolio of perinatal and neonatal equipment and solutions that help clinicians provide exceptional care to women and their new born babies.
Learn more about our neonatal solutions
EFCNI Partnership to help ensure every baby has the best start
From 1st of June, 2020, GE Healthcare Maternal Infant Care division and European Foundation for the Care of Newborn Infants, EFCNI, have officially kicked off the platinum partnership. GE Healthcare and the European Foundation for the Care of Newborn Infants, EFCNI, announce their collaboration to achieve their common goal: Preserving today the potential of tomorrow.
More info, fact sheets & videos about neonatal resuscitation
1,3 Source: World Health Organization, Preterm births
Questions or requests? Don't hesitate to contact our Nordic team
About Kevyt: The Finnish association of premature families was founded in 1997 at the Helsinki Children’s Clinic in Meilahti. It operates entirely on a voluntary basis and works to provide peer support and recreation for premature families; share information about preterm infancy; promote cooperation between professionals caring for premature infants and premature families; and affect the well-being and equality of premature families.
About Prematurforeningen: The Norwegian premature association is run voluntarily by parents of preterm children. The association was established in 1988 on the initiative of the neonatal ward and a group of parents at Ullevål Hospital. Prematurforeningen works to ensure that all parents, hospitals, health centers, kindergartens and schools receive the best information about premature children.