Giving our tiniest patients the best start to life

World Prematurity Day is held to honour the 1 in 10 babies born too soon, and those who lost their fight to survive. In Australia, around eight per cent of babies are born prematurely (before 37 weeks gestation) every year.

At Mater, both our clinical team and researchers are dedicated to improving the outcomes and lives of babies born prematurely in our Neonatal Critical Care Unit (NCCU).

We have invested into ongoing neonatal research which is critical to help women live their healthiest lives during pregnancy, through childbirth and into the first years of their baby’s life.

Mater Researcher and neurodevelopmental follow-up specialist, Associate Professor Samudragupta (Sam) Bora is currently co-leading a ground-breaking research project investigating opportunities to inform early intervention for premature babies. 

“I am passionate about improving the quality of life of high-risk children and their families. I am determined to find an appropriate answer to the question that parents often ask me—what’s the developmental prognosis for my premature baby?” Sam said.

“Every day we take small steps towards being able to answer that question effectively. I am committed to delivering an effective plan for parents to help improve their child’s life.”

The multidisciplinary team who work in Mater Mothers' NCCU provide specialist, around the clock care, to our tiniest patients—giving them the best possible start to life. 

Director of the Neonatal Critical Care Unit Dr Pita Birch said his team did an outstanding job taking care of not only babies but families as well.

“We see nearly 2 000 Queensland families in the unit each year, some will only need to stay the night where as others can be here for months. The impact of the NCCU will last a lifetime for these families,” Pita said.

Providing lifesaving critical care for Queensland’s tiniest and most fragile babies Mater Mothers' NCCU is a 79-cot facility caring for critically unwell newborn babies, including premature babies born as young as 23 weeks often weighing less than a kilogram.

Support our Mater little miracles