In this five-part series, you will be able to read about premature babies and the neonatal unit.

By the time the baby reaches 34 weeks, the brain is about two-thirds the size it would have been had the baby been born full-term. The pupil of the eye can now respond to light by contracting. The skin, including the eyelids, has thickened. The coordination of breathing, sucking and swallowing is starting to pick up. The baby now mostly likes sweet tastes. The pattern of movement is still relatively jerky and involves large movements, but the baby as a whole is becoming more mobile. They can now grasp things and lift their head. If there is too much pressure from the environment, the child now has enough energy to protest by waving its arms and legs. For short periods, it may now be possible for the child to make eye contact with their parents. The child still sleeps a lot, around 80-90% of the day, in order to grow and develop.

If the baby is born around these weeks, many will need to be cared for in a warming bed with a warm water mattress to help keep the baby warm. The bed also has a canopy to protect against bright light from the environment. The bed has small bed nets to keep the baby safe.

The lungs are still immature and often need some form of respiratory support to breathe deeply and effectively. During these weeks, respiratory support in the form of a CPAP, where the baby breathes against air resistance to help open up the air sacs to make breathing more efficient, is often sufficient. The child may still have difficulty regulating their heart rate and breathing.

Babies born during these weeks may need help to get nutrition via a drip and/or a tube from the nose down to the stomach. If the baby is well and awake, small amounts of food can now be put in the mouth and, as the baby grows and develops, the drip can be phased out and the baby will then receive all its food through the stomach.

The child may be mature enough now to move from the thermoregulatory bed to a regular bed with a canopy. It may be possible for the whole family to live together in a family room.

Both child and parent benefit from spending as much time as possible together. You can help with changing diapers, washing, weighing your baby and being present at mealtimes. This way you can follow your child's development and get to know your child. It is important that everything is done as calmly as possible with slow movements and many breaks. Feel free to talk to your child in a soft tone of voice, or why not sing in the same way as the child recognizes your voice.

To be able to carry your child skin-to-skin, there are often various forms of carrying aids available to borrow on the ward

Once you have stimulated the breasts, you can give the first drops (colostrum) directly into the baby's mouth in agreement with the staff. Once milk production is established, you can give a taster portion of fresh breast milk to give to your baby during a period of wakefulness. It is important for the baby to learn to eat. In addition to tube feeding, now may be the time to lay at the breast for the first time to learn how to breastfeed. If you don't want to breastfeed, a bottle can be introduced. There are staff on the ward who have extra training on breastfeeding, so don't hesitate to let us know if you or your baby need extra support.