The odds were against Noah when he was born 11 weeks premature,
weighing just over a kilogram.
Now aged four, the bubbly preschooler is doing well despite his
difficult start in life, thanks in part to a new home-based program
developed by Murdoch Childrens and the Royal Women's Hospital.
More than 120 babies born premature took part in the program,
which saw physiotherapists and psychologists visit the family home
monthly during the first year of life to offer support to babies
and their families.
Babies who underwent the program had better social and emotional
development at the age of two, than prem babies who received
standard medical care, while their parents were less likely to
report symptoms of anxiety and depression.
Mum Simone Saunders said the program had given her support and
guidance during the critical first year of Noah's life.
"It was a real shock when Noah was born so premature and I felt
very isolated," she said. "It made a big difference to have a
psychologist to talk to and to have a physiotherapist visit our
home to help Noah's development including learning to crawl."
Researchers are now following up children at the age of four to
assess the program's longer-term benefits. They are also looking to
develop an online version of the program for parents to access from
home.
The study received funding from the Cerebral Palsy Foundation,
the Myer Foundation, the Thyne Reid Foundation, Allens Arthur
Robinson, Murdoch Childrens and the National Health and Medical
Research Council.
*Photo: Noah Saunders meets another preemie at the Royal Women's
Hospital. Photo courtesy Herald Sun.