From preterm birth to thriving baby!

Little Luna had an amazing start in life after her mum Rebecca unexpectedly went into labour not much more than halfway through her pregnancy. NHS maternity and neonatal staff (first in Buckinghamshire and then in maternity and the Newborn Intensive Care Unit at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford) worked together to make sure they got the right care in the right place at the right time.

This 10-minute video features some of those highly skilled health professionals, including OUH's Dr Eleri Adams and Professor Lawrence Impey, Rebecca, her partner Alan and, of course, their daughter Luna who is now thriving!

The British Association of Perinatal Medicine (BAPM) has introduced a series of evidence-based interventions designed to lead to better outcomes for babies born too soon. Health Innovation Oxford and Thames Valley has worked in collaboration with NHS England and a regional network of NHS maternity and neonatal units to ensure these measures are used in everyday practice.

Luna was born at 24 weeks and one day – and she weighed just 655 grams. That's about the same as three apples!

Katherine Edwards, Director of Patient Safety and Clinical Improvement at Health Innovation Oxford & Thames Valley, said: "This short film is a great example of how every day in the NHS, staff in maternity and neonatal services are bringing their wide-ranging skills together to make sure that premature babies get the best possible start in life."

Watch Luna's story on Health Innovation Oxford and Thames Valley's YouTube channel.

More information on improving outcomes for preterm babies is on Health Innovation Oxford and Thames Valley's website.