Teeny-Weeny Preemies with Dr. Kate Rubey

The neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) is the hospital ward where no new parents ever hope to be. Though a safe haven for babies, the NICU becomes a temporary home to those who require immediate medical care, such as preterm or premature babies (born before 37 weeks of pregnancy), congenital anomalies (i.e., birth defects), and infections. According to the March of Dimes, a non-profit organization championing the fight against preventable maternal, preterm, and infant death, around 19.5% of babies are collectively born preterm in a given week in the United States. Premature birth can result in developmental delays and impairments in respiration, hearing, and vision, with data showing that it accounts for almost 36% of infant deaths from 2017-2019. Meanwhile, 3% of babi ...