His concern goes beyond the health problems and one in four mothers (24%) believe that prematurity mean that your children can not reach the same level in school than other children, as highlighted by the survey conducted by Abbott with celebrate the first edition of the International Children's Day Prematurity.

The study, for which we had the opinion of 1,300 mothers and mothers-from thirteen countries, including Spain, demonstrates the need to increase the level of information on preterm birth and associated risks that lead to new and expectant mothers.

More than two-thirds of respondents were unaware of the incidence of premature births and 42% of mothers underestimated their level, well below the average incidence rate of 10%, in Spain is around 7% -.

The results highlight the emotional stress experienced by mothers of premature infants. About half of them felt stress when giving birth, but who had premature children had significantly more anxiety and feelings of guilt, fear and helplessness, with respect to the mothers of term infants.

The survey found that mothers of premature children trust doctors as one of its main sources of information. Therefore, most mothers claimed additional support once their children were discharged from the hospital, on the part of pediatricians and nurses in primary care centers.

In this sense, the president of the Executive Committee of the European Foundation for the Care of the Newborn, Silke Mader, noted that the International Day aims to increase access to information and support to prospective and new parents.

"With this first day we are trying to create greater awareness, access to information and emotional support for pregnant women and mothers of premature infants. This is the beginning of a long journey to raise awareness of prematurity and its risks."