Great progress has been made in neonatal medicine, increasing doctors′ ability to care for premature babies. Developments in modern technology mean that babies born early have a much better chance of survival and a healthy life than in previous years.

The survival rates and levels of long-term disability for premature babies are related to how early they are born and their birth weight. Obviously, the earlier that a baby is born, the greater is the risk. Thanks to advances in medical science, babies born ′pre-term′, between 33 and 37 weeks, rarely have any long-term problems. But about 10,000 ′very pre-term′ babies are born each year - these are babies born before 33 weeks - (six and a half months). They are - especially vulnerable and are at far greater risk - research suggests that a third of them will have developmental problems of some kind, which may range from severe disability throughout life to learning difficulties at school.

As a forward-thinking charity, Action Medical Research is creating a healthier future for everyone. Although we will still fund work into a wide range of diseases and conditions affecting all age groups, Touching Tiny Lives will give extra impetus towards solving the problems of pregnancy, childbirth and the early years.

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