We're raising funds to support research into whether gentle touch combined with skin-to-skin contact can reduce pain and improve brain development in premature babies—helping give 55,000 vulnerable newborns in the UK a better start in life.
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Each year, over 39,000 premature babies in the UK face repeated painful procedures in intensive care. This untreated pain can harm brain development and long-term wellbeing. Current pain relief methods are limited—these vulnerable babies urgently need better, safer solutions.
This project will test whether combining skin-to-skin contact (kangaroo care) with gentle touch can safely reduce pain in premature babies. By measuring brain activity and other pain responses, it aims to show this simple, low-cost method improves outcomes and supports healthy brain development.