Every year on 17 November, the world pauses to recognise the tiniest fighters among us – babies born too soon and the families and healthcare teams who care for them. In 2025, World Prematurity Day carries the global slogan:

“Give preterm babies a strong start for a brighter future.”

It’s a powerful reminder that how we support preterm babies in their very first moments can shape not only their future, but the future of our communities and health systems as well.

Why World Prematurity Day Matters

Preterm birth – defined as birth before 37 weeks of pregnancy – is a major global health challenge:

• Around 13.4 million babies were born preterm in 2020 – roughly 1 in 10 babies worldwide.
• Nearly 1 million of these infants die each year from complications related to prematurity.

Behind every statistic is a baby with a name, a family, and a story that begins differently than expected -often in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs), operating rooms, and delivery suites where every second truly counts.

World Prematurity Day gives families a voice and highlights the emotional, physical, and financial challenges surrounding preterm birth. Landmarks worldwide glow purple, and the familiar “socks line” – a tiny pair of purple socks hanging among nine full-size socks – symbolises that one in ten babies is born too soon.

A Strong Start Begins With Prepared Teams

For preterm babies, the difference between surviving and thriving often depends on:

• How rapidly complications are recognised
• How effectively resuscitation and ventilation are performed
• How well teams communicate under pressure

Neonatal professionals must be prepared for rare but extremely high-stakes scenarios, such as stabilising a 22–23 week micro-preemie or managing respiratory distress in a 27-29 week infant. These moments cannot be practised on real babies- yet they require absolute precision.

This is where high-fidelity simulation becomes essential. Realistic manikins and modern training tools allow learners to:

• Practise neonatal resuscitation
• Develop gentle handling skills
• Strengthen communication and teamwork
• Build confidence for emergency and routine NICU scenarios

Why Realism in Neonatal Simulation Matters

Preterm and micro-preterm babies are not simply “small newborns.” They have:

• More fragile airways
• Thinner, delicate skin
• Highly immature organ systems
• Unique positioning and handling requirements

Simulation training must reflect these realities as accurately as possible. When teams practise on anatomically realistic manikins, they not only refine technical skills but also cultivate the empathy and sensitivity required for neonatal care.

3B Scientific’s Commitment to Preterm Training

At 3B Scientific, we proudly support World Prematurity Day 2025 and its call to “give preterm babies a strong start for a brighter future.” Our mission is to empower educators and healthcare professionals with training tools that enhance both competence and compassion.

Through Lifecast Body Simulation – a 3B Scientific company located at Elstree Studios in the UK – we offer some of the world’s most lifelike neonatal manikins, created from real Lifecast Body Simulation’s and built to evoke emotional engagement through realism.

World’s First Micro-Preemie Manikin

This worlds-first micro-preemie manikin, developed in collaboration with Dr. Alok Sharma, Consultant Neonatologist at Southampton Hospital, UK, represents the smallest and most fragile infants born at just 22-23 weeks gestation. This realistic Micro-preemie manikin offers the following:

• Extremely Low Birth Weight: Accurately represents a 22-23 weeks gestation infant, weighing just 500 grams.
• NICU-Specific Training: Designed to train healthcare professionals in the delicate handling, ventilation, and care of the smallest and most fragile infants.
• Tension Pneumothorax Training: Includes the ability to perform needle decompression and chest drainage (dry, no fluid). With this groundbreaking innovation, practitioners can refine the skills needed to navigate the unique demands of the NICU, offering hope and care to the most vulnerable newborns.

Pre-Term Baby Manikin

Around 1.9 million babies are born globally each year at 28-29 weeks’ gestation, making this one of the most common preterm groups needing specialised clinical care. The Pre-Term Baby Manikin from Lifecast Body Simulation is an accurate representation of an infant in this gestational range, created through detailed scanning and sculpting of real premature newborns.

The manikin supports neonatal teams in practising key procedures and managing the unique challenges of caring for premature infants, helping clinicians build both technical skills and confidence.

Key Features:

• True-to-life weight and anatomically accurate outer body

• Correct internal airway for ET/NP/OP tube insertion and intubation

• Reactive chest for artificial ventilation, including HFOV

• Realistic airway pressures and ventilatory volumes

• CPR-capable chest designed for a 50/50 duty cycle

• Umbilical cord for drug administration up to 5 mL

• Skin turgor suitable for dry IV training

NEO Training by Monivent – Smarter, Feedback-Driven Ventilation Practice

Manual ventilation remains one of the most critical yet challenging neonatal resuscitation skills. Monivent Neo Training supports clinicians in practising this skill more effectively by providing real-time feedback on key ventilation parameters, such as delivered tidal volume.

A compact sensor integrated into the face mask measures airflow and helps learners immediately see how their technique influences ventilation quality. This allows teams to adjust and develop safer, more consistent habits during simulation-based training.

As part of our neonatal simulation range, 3B Scientific also offers Monivent Neo Training, enabling educators to combine lifelike neonatal manikins with objective ventilation feedback when planning their training programmes.

Highlights:

• Simple set up by connecting the Monivent Neo Training face mask to conventional bag-valve-mask or T-piece resuscitator.

• Wireless data transfer enhances realism by eliminating connecting cables or tubing.

• Continuous real time feedback enhances and speeds up learning.

• Feedback on mask leakage helps identify need to adjust face mask position.

• PIP in combination with VTe helps identify potential airway obstruction and provides a better understanding of lung compliance.

• Personal training log shows performance over time, increases motivation to practice and improves ventilation skills.

Standing With Preterm Babies – Today and Every Day

On World Prematurity Day 2025, as buildings light up purple and families share their journeys, we are reminded that preterm babies deserve more than awareness – they deserve action, preparation, and support.

By using advanced training tools such as:

• The world’s first Micro-Preemie Manikin from Lifecast Body Simulation
• The realistic Pre-Term Baby Manikin
• NEO Training by Monivent, providing real-time ventilation feedback

healthcare professionals can ensure they are ready to provide the safest and most effective care when a preterm baby needs them most.

This World Prematurity Day, we honour preterm babies, their families, and the dedicated teams who give them hope for a brighter future.

Sources

• World Prematurity Day – Global Awareness Info
  https://www.globalprematurity.org
• World Health Organization – Preterm Birth Facts
  https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/preterm-birth
• UNICEF – Preterm Birth & Newborn Health
  https://www.unicef.org/health/child-health/newborn-care
• Lifecast Body Simulation – Micro-Preemie & Pre-Term Baby Manikins
  https://www.lifecastbodysimulation.com
• Monivent NEO Training – Official Product Information
  https://www.monivent.se