Bliss (charity) considering allowing due date, rather than birth date, to be used when making admissions decisions. Bliss works in partnership to promote and support best practice in neonatal care, and is currently involved in over £10.1 million of research which is responsible for significant improvements in the care and treatment of babies born premature or sick. Here are some of the research projects Bliss are involved with. Since 1995 Bliss has supported the EPICure study, the longest running study into prematurity in the world, which tracks the chances of survival and later health status of babies born at less than 26
Bliss (charity) wanted to investigate whether improving the nutritional content of the babies’ intravenous feeds improves early head growth, which could affect brain development and ultimately the future quality of life for very premature babies. Results: The study showed head growth in the first 28 days of life can be improved by increasing the protein and energy content of the intravenous feed in babies less than 29 weeks, which continues up to 36 weeks. Other studies have found that there is a link between head circumference and IQ, and it is also believed that this increased brain growth could prevent learning difficulties