A new study has found a 73% reduction in the number of very low birth weight babies born prematurely at University Maternity Hospital Limerick (UMHL) in the first four months of this year compared with previous years.
Professor Roy Philip, clinical professor of neonatology, said that between 34 and 50 preterm babies were delivered annually at the hospital over the last 20 years.
Speaking on RTÉ's Today with Sarah McInerney, Prof Philip said that in the first four months of this year, just three very low birth weight babies were born at UMHL.
He said that very low birth weight babies weigh up to 1,500 grammes and extremely low birth weight babies weigh below 1,000 grammes.
Prof Philip said the best way to avoid preterm birth complications is to reduce the rate of prematurity.
He said factors identified as possibly impacting on the reduced number of preterm births include less stress on pregnant women who are working from home; less commuting; better nutrition and better partner support; reduced shift work and a reduction in the transmission of common viral infections.
He said the answers are not precise but he said there was no change in the clinical care given.
Prof Philip said that while the study cannot point to why exactly preterm births occurred, it considered the Covid-19 restrictions as an opportunity to look at societal, behavioural and environmental factors that may have played a role.
The study examined the numbers of low birth weight babies born at UMHL between January and April of this year in comparison with the previous 20 years, and contrasted the data with Central Statistic Office figures.
