A guide for premature babies launched

Parents of premature babies are getting vital advice and support through a new charity guide book.

Tommy's has launched its Having a Premature Baby book to help parents who are affected by pregnancy complications or early births.

The London-based charity, which funds research into pregnancy problems such as miscarriage, premature and stillbirth, offers information to parents and parents-to-be about pregnancy, birth, their baby's time in hospital and early days at home.

The 94-page guide also offers support to new parents on the early months of their baby's life as well as tips on looking after their own health.

Alongside that it also helps people at risk of giving birth prematurely and offers them healthy lifestyle advice to encourage a full-term pregnancy.

Beckie Lang, health campaigns manager for Tommy's, said: "Having a premature baby is a daunting prospect for all involved. We know from the many mums and dads that contact us that there is a lack of resources for those that have been told they are going to have a premature baby, so we hope this guide gives parents the support they need."

The guide has been developed thanks to a grant from the Asda Foundation, which supports local communities and causes, and features advice from health professionals and parents.

One mum who contributed to the guide is 45-year-old Louisa Caroline-Hines, from Bromley, whose son was born at 28 weeks.

She said: "I think the guide is brilliant. It is so comprehensive and I would have loved to have had a book like that at the time - having a premature baby can be a terrifying experience."

To order a free copy of the guide visit www.tommys.org/store.