Between 10 and 20 percent of newborn babies born every day in Cork University Maternity Hospital need to be treated in the neonatal unit.
CUMH say the majority of the babies admitted to the unit have minor problems with their breathing or blood sugar but some newborns need intensive care for a long period of time.
Some of the pre-mature babies in the neonatal unit are born 4 months early and sometimes weigh as little as 500 grams.
There's an average of 35 babies in the unit at one time who all need round the clock care from neonatal doctors and nurses.
Speaking to RedFM News Dr Peter Filan of CUMH says constant research has improved the survival of premature babies:
"Those small tiny premature babies are the ones that are the sickest, the most vulnerable. I mean, they're tiny. These babies are less than a kilo, sometimes as small as 500 grams. They're tiny and they can spend a long time with this. There's no doubt that their survival is improved. Not all babies survive."
