Shining a light on premature birth during Prematurity Awareness Month

For thousands of families, a baby’s first home isn’t the nursery they prepared — it’s the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Behind every early arrival is a family facing the unexpected — and a reminder of just how critical prematurity awareness remains. Before many babies take their first breath at home, they rely on the expert care of NICUs across the country.

With November being Prematurity Awareness Month, it is important to know that premature birth remains the leading cause of death for infants and children less than five years old. World-wide, 13.4 million babies are born prematurely (less than 37 weeks of pregnancy) annually, and in the United States, there are more than 370,000 babies born prematurely each year, with 10.4% of those requiring admission to a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).

Common reasons for babies to be admitted to the NICU include prematurity, blood sugar instability, breathing difficulties and concerns for infection. Some infants will spend only a few days in the NICU, while other more complicated infants could remain for months.

Mission Hospital has the region’s only level III NICU and is the regional referral center for western North Carolina, capable of caring for the sickest and most complicated infants. This much higher degree of specialized and sustained critical care is the key difference between a level III NICU and other special care nurseries.

In 2024, Mission’s NICU cared for more than 850 babies, including nearly 80 babies that weighed less than three pounds at birth.

In order to provide this service to critical infants, more than 200 staff members care for babies in the NICU including Neonatologists, Neonatal Nurse Practitioners, nurses and other support staff such as pediatric trained respiratory therapists, nutritionists, pharmacists and speech/occupational/physical therapists. We work closely with regional OBGYN practices and the MAHEC OBGYN clinic, which provides care to expectant mothers, including a Maternal Fetal Medicine practice for mothers with complicated pregnancies.

Choosing a hospital with a level III or level IV NICU for your delivery provides a crucial safety net for both expected and unexpected complications. If your pregnancy is already categorized as high risk, your physician may recommend or require you to deliver at a hospital with this around-the-clock capability. And even if you have a low-risk pregnancy, having immediate access to specialized care is a significant advantage. Essentially, it acts as an insurance policy for your baby’s earliest and most vulnerable moments, ensuring they receive rapid, expert care without the stress of being moved.

Capable of taking care of the most premature babies, down to 22 weeks of pregnancy, Mission Hospital also cares for infants with complex surgical and congenital abnormalities. Recently, we have expanded our care of infants with neurologic abnormalities and complications. Another focus in recent years has been to implement advanced respiratory support technology and to utilize a unique nourishment fortifier to provide an exclusive human milk-based diet to premature infants, which significantly decreases intestinal and feeding complications.

For more than two decades, our program has been an active participant in the Vermont Oxford Network (VON), a voluntary, worldwide collaborative with the goal of giving infants the best possible start so that every newborn and family achieves their fullest potential. One focus of the VON has been to improve “kangaroo” care, or the time when parents spend holding their premature infant with skin-to-skin care. Research has shown that increased kangaroo care increases survival in premature infants.

This month is dedicated to raising awareness about the challenges of pre-term birth, recognizing the healthcare professionals and families who care for these babies, and driving efforts for prevention, research and support. Through education and quality prenatal care, premature birth can be largely preventable. If you’re pregnant or planning to be, be sure to prioritize your prenatal care, maintain healthy habits and manage any chronic conditions with your OBGYN and other providers.

I have been a Neonatologist in Asheville for 18 years. I have never been prouder of our dedicated team that cares for the most vulnerable, fragile patients in the hospital. Our focus on a family-centered experience is clear. Our job is more than caring for the babies. Our job is to care for the entire family with expertise, honesty, dedication and empathy.

Erik S. Thingvoll, MD, is the Medical Director of the Mission Hospital NICU.