Thanks to advancements in neonatal care, more premature infants are surviving in the United Arab Emirates (UAE); however, doctors note that many of them require years of specialized rehabilitation to reduce the risk of lifelong impairments.
A Family's Story
The need for such assistance is clearly illustrated by the SEHA Children's Rehabilitation Hospital, where nearly a third of patients undergoing rehabilitation were born prematurely. Emirati mother Noura Al Ameri shares the experience of her younger daughter, Alyazia. Alyazia was born at 23 weeks gestation, weighing only 580 grams, and spent about a year in the hospital after arriving several months early. She required respiratory support and tube feeding, followed by months of intensive rehabilitation.
Alyazia has a twin brother, Hamad, who was also born prematurely. Although he was born slightly heavier, around 750 grams, and gradually caught up in development, Alyazia's journey proved significantly more challenging. The mother notes that while Hamad walks, Alyazia has faced mobility issues. Today, at 19 months old, Alyazia breathes independently and eats normally, continuing outpatient rehabilitation, although movement problems persist.
Early Childhood Challenges
Al Ameri recalls her initial fear of losing her daughter in the first few months of life. She recounted being told that her daughter was in danger due to her tiny size and very weak lungs, necessitating a ventilator for all breathing. One of the happiest moments was when, after several months of therapy, Alyazia no longer needed tube feeding. Previously, she couldn't even use a pacifier, but she gradually began taking food by mouth. When the tube was finally removed, she felt real hope.
A recent developmental milestone also brought tears to the family's eyes. For a long time, Alyazia could only lie on her back, but one day she turned onto her stomach on her own. This moment brought immense happiness to the family. Despite Hamad reaching important developmental milestones earlier, Al Ameri admits that comparing the twins was emotionally difficult. However, every new movement from Alyazia instills hope in them.
Medical Experts' Opinion
Doctors assert that Alyazia's story reflects a general trend, not an isolated case. Dr. Danish Muhammad Sami, the current Chief Medical Director of the Children's Rehabilitation Hospital, stated that improvements in neonatal care have led to more premature children surviving with complex medical needs requiring post-discharge rehabilitation. Many of them are referred with developmental delays, feeding and swallowing difficulties, chronic lung diseases, or respiratory complications related to preterm birth, while others require support for neurological conditions, cerebral palsy, or sensory impairments. Rehabilitation plans typically include pediatrics, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, and nutritional support.
He emphasized the critical importance of early intervention, as the first years of life are a crucial period for brain development. According to him, starting rehabilitation at an early age helps children develop motor, feeding, and communication skills, allowing emerging difficulties to be addressed before they become more serious.
Expanding the Medical Trend
Independent specialists confirm that this trend extends beyond a single hospital. Dr. Olinka Kovobari, a neonatology consultant at Burjeel Medical Centre, noted that the improved survival rate among extremely premature infants has shifted the focus from mere life support to achieving the best possible developmental outcomes. She believes that the best results are achieved when survival is combined with early monitoring and rehabilitation, and intervention should begin before problems develop, rather than waiting for obvious delays.
Dr. Iviano Ossetta, a neonatology consultant at Danat Al Emarat, reported that advances in antenatal care, neonatal intensive care, and respiratory support have steadily increased survival over the last decade, making structured follow-up development increasingly significant. He added that infants receiving early physiotherapy, occupational therapy, nutritional support, and developmental monitoring are more likely to reach developmental milestones than those whose issues are recognized later.
The Importance of Ongoing Monitoring
Doctors warn that the most common parental misconception is that the hardest part is over after discharge from the neonatal intensive care unit. Dr. Kovobari explained that many children who appear to have recovered well may subsequently experience difficulties with speech, motor skills, or behavior months or even years later. She stressed that monitoring is part of treatment, not an optional addition, and the best outcomes are achieved when rehabilitation begins before delays become apparent.
She specified that many premature infants can achieve significant developmental progress, especially with timely coordinated rehabilitation, although final outcomes depend on factors such as gestational age, birth weight, neurological complications, nutrition, and family support. Early intervention can help mitigate issues like feeding difficulties, slowed motor development, and future learning or attention problems by utilizing the brain's peak adaptability period in infancy.
Doctors advised parents to seek medical help if a premature child experiences feeding difficulties, gains weight slowly, appears unusually tense or lethargic, shows limited arm or leg movement, delays rolling, sitting, or crawling, has limited eye contact, shows little interest in interaction, or loses previously acquired skills. Specialists also insist that premature infants should be assessed using corrected age, calculated from the estimated date of delivery, rather than actual date of birth, as this provides a more accurate measure of developmental milestone achievement. For example, a child born two months early who is now six months old will have a corrected age of four months.
Dr. Ossetta agreed that the improved survival rate among extremely premature infants has made structured developmental monitoring increasingly vital. He explained that many premature children can catch up with their peers, especially if developmental issues are identified early and appropriate interventions are provided. The best outcomes are linked to timely monitoring, active family involvement, optimal nutrition, and access to multidisciplinary support.
The family, living about an hour's drive from Al Ain, continues to attend therapy several times a week, combining it with visits to other children. Nevertheless, for Al Ameri, the biggest lesson was patience. She concluded: 'Have faith, trust your doctors, and be patient. There were days I thought I might lose her. But thanks to patience and God's will, today every small movement of hers feels like a victory.'
