Overview
- Weekend coverage (Nov. 14–15) reports that survival for babies born before 24 weeks has risen to roughly 60–70 percent according to neonatal specialists.
- Top perinatal centres such as MHH emphasize early non‑invasive respiratory support like nasal cannula/CPAP, shorter use of mechanical ventilation, incubators and access to human milk to improve short‑term outcomes.
- Very premature infants remain at high risk of acute problems such as immature lungs, brain haemorrhage, necrotizing enterocolitis and retinopathy of prematurity, which can lead to motor, cognitive or neurological impairments later in life.
- Parents commonly face intense stress and social isolation after a preterm birth, and hospitals provide psychological counselling and bedside support yet many families still lack sustained informal and community help after discharge.
- Prematurity affects about 8–10 percent of births in Germany, more than 60,000 babies a year, and many need structured multidisciplinary follow‑up — including physiotherapy, speech and early education support — to improve long‑term chances of catching up.