Jenny R. McCormick, Senior Editor PreemieWorld

Let’s talk statistics. According to a study in Pediatrics, Autism was later diagnosed in the following percentage of babies who were born at these stages of pregnancy:

• 6 percent of babies born between 22 and 27 weeks
• 2.6 percent of babies born between 28 and 33 weeks
• 2 percent of babies born between 34 and 36 weeks

April is Autism Awareness Month. For so many of us preemie parents, leaving the NICU is just the beginning of a long road of diagnoses and complications. If you are on this journey with your preemie, you’re not alone. Here are some helpful resources:

Regional Center: Early intervention is key! Regional Center provides services and supports to individuals with developmental disabilities. Find a center in your area: https://www.dds.ca.gov/rc/lookup-rcs-by-county/

AutismNOW: Provides high quality resources and education. https://autismnow.org/

Preemie Crystal Ball: Working to create a preemie registry that will power the research to provide better patient outcomes – https://crystalballhealth.com/