Frequently Asked Questions
Premature or Low Birth Weight Care in the UK
What is a Premature Baby?
Premature Babies are defined as:
- Premature baby Born before 37 weeks
- Moderately Premature Born between 35 and 37 weeks
- Very Premature Born between 29 and 34 weeks
- Extremely Premature Born before 29 weeks
- Low birth weight baby Weighs less than 2,500g (5.5 lbs)
- Very low birth weight baby Weighs less than 1,500g (3.0 lbs)
- Extremely low birth weight baby Weighs less than 1,000g (2.2 lbs)
What are the Different Levels of Neonatal Care?
Neonatal Units: Definitions and Facts
There are approximately 226 units in the UK offering neonatal intensive, high dependency or special care.
There are three levels of neonatal care. These are described in general terms below with some examples of the care that babies receive. Also indicated are the British Association of Perinatal Medicine standards for nurse to baby ratios.
Special Care (Level 1)
For babies requiring continuous monitoring of respiration or heart rate; for babies receiving added oxygen, being tube fed, receiving phototherapy or recovering from more specialist care.
Special Care nurse to baby ratio – 1:4
High Dependency Care (Level 2)
For babies receiving nasal continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) but not fulfilling any of the categories for intensive care; any baby below 1,000gms who does not fulfil any of the categories for intensive care; babies receiving parental nutrition, with apnoea requiring stimulation.
High Dependency Care nurse to baby ratio – 1:2
Intensive Care (Level 3)
For babies needing respiratory support (ventilation); for babies weighing less than 1,000g and/or born at less than 28 weeks’ gestation and receiving nasal continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP); for babies with severe respiratory disease or who require major surgery.
Intensive Care nurse to baby ratio – 1:1
How does the UK compare to other European Countries with Premature Care?
The table below shows the UK’s high rate of infant mortality and low birth weight babies in comparison with other major European nations. Out of the countries listed the UK has the highest infant mortality rate and only Greece has a higher percentage of low birth weight babies.
|
European Infant Mortality and Low Birth Weight Rates |
|
Country |
Infant Mortality Rate |
Low Birth Weight Rate |
|
Deaths per 1,000 live births |
(% of births less than 2500g) |
|
|
Iceland |
2.4 |
3.1 |
|
Finland |
3.1 |
4.1 |
|
Sweden |
3.1 |
4.5 |
|
France |
3.9 |
6.6 |
|
Spain |
4.1 |
6.8 |
|
Germany |
4.2 |
6.8 |
|
Belgium |
4.3 |
6.5 |
|
Italy |
4.3 |
6.5 |
|
Denmark |
4.4 |
5.5 |
|
Austria |
4.5 |
7.1 |
|
Netherlands |
4.8 |
5.4 |
|
Greece |
4.8 |
8.3 |
|
Ireland |
5.1 |
4.9 |
|
UK* |
5.3 |
7.6 |
|
Source - UNICEF, Child poverty in perspective: An overview of child well-being in rich countries, Innocenti Report Card 7, 2007, UNICEF Innocenti Research Centre, Florence. |
|
*UK information in the UNICEF report is 2003 data |
