New research project aims to get premature babies home sooner

One in 12 babies in Alberta isborn too soon, one of the highest rates of pre-termbirths in the country.

Thecare of theseprematurebabies costs the provincial government $35 million a year.

After such births, the mothers usually go home, while the babies remain in hospital for weeks, until they're strong and healthy enough to leave.

A new research project calledtheFamily Integrated Care study aims tohavefamilies leave thehospital sooner with healthier pre-term babies.

"We believe that if parents care for their babies in hospital, their babies will be healthier," said Dr.KhalidAziz, a professor of pediatrics at the University of Alberta and a lead researcher on the project.

"Their babies will be in hospital for a shorter time, and the parents will be more confident about taking a premature baby home."

Currentlythe length of stay for apre-termbaby in a Level IINeo-natal Intensive Care Unitis 16 days, and Aziz said the project hopesto see that time reduced by at least 10 per cent.

Erica and CoryThomas know about premature babies.Their twins,Arianna and Jacob, were born May 23, at32 weeks and 4 days.

Since their birth, the couple hasbeen with the twins every step of the way.

"We have a say in how they're being cared for, when they're feeding and how they're feeding," Erica Thomas said. "And it just makes us feel likeit brings back that instinctual piece of taking care of our babies. When you can't do that, it's really, really difficult."

Hundreds of babies to be studied

The Family Integrated Care study is open until March 2018. It will involve all 10 Level II NICUsites in Alberta, with approximately 600 babies and their parents enrolled.

The clinical staff will provide training to the parents, who will participate in daily care with constant support from the health-care team.

The study's investigators will then look to see how the babies do over the long term, and whether the children develop fewer medicalcomplications.

Pre-term babies can be susceptible to jaundice, infections, as well as respiratory, feeding, and behavioural problems.