Developmental follow-up of children and young people born preterm: summary of NICE guidance

#### What you need to know Preterm birth, defined as birth before 37+0 weeks’ gestation, is associated with short and long term problems. While most babies born preterm have good developmental outcomes and quality of life, some experience problems which can affect learning and function, activities, and participation. Around 7.5% of babies are born preterm in England and Wales, and approximately 0.4% are born extremely preterm (<28+0 weeks’ gestation). In 2015, this amounted to 53 209 babies born preterm and 3014 born extremely preterm.1 This article summarises the recent NICE guidance on the developmental follow-up of children and young people born preterm2 and was commissioned to improve the early identification of developmental problems and disorders in children born preterm and to alert health professionals to risk factors that may increase the likelihood of problems. Much of the developmental support …