Interview with Concepción Gómez Esteban, President of APREM (Asociación de Padres de Niños Prematuros)
Dear Innitius Community,
This month, we spoke with Concepción Gómez Esteban, President of APREM (Association of Parents of Premature Babies). Known as Concha, she has spent over 25 years advocating for premature babies and their families, a mission that began in 1999 when her twin sons were born extremely prematurely, weighing just 560 and 890 grams. This life-changing experience led her, along with other families, to found APREM, Spain’s first prematurity association. Concha, a tenured sociology professor at Complutense University of Madrid, has also made significant contributions to prematurity research.
In this interview, Concha shares her insights on the challenges families face, the role of medical innovation, and the future of prematurity care.
APREM has been supporting families of premature babies for over two decades. What inspired its creation, and how has its mission evolved over the years?
“APREM was founded in 1999 by five families, all of whom had extremely vulnerable premature babies. We met at La Paz Hospital in Madrid and realized that facing such a situation alone was far more difficult than doing so as a group. At the time, prematurity was still largely unknown, and the only people who truly understood our struggles were those experiencing the same. We established an association to ensure that other families would not feel as alone as we did. That was the beginning of APREM—The first association of families with premature children in Spain. As pioneers, we gradually began helping families while also initiating a broader societal movement around prematurity in Spain.
Today, after more than 25 years, APREM continues to be a leader in this space, paving the way for support and awareness. From the start, we knew the importance of formation. This differentiates APREM because we recognized that anything said to a parent in such a vulnerable situation—especially those with extremely premature babies—would stay with them forever. We understood that offering real support required proper training, not just sharing personal experiences.”
How does APREM support families?
“From the beginning, our focus has been on emotional support, which is essential in such critical moments. We provide guidance from trained professionals and currently handle around 700 inquiries a year. Over time, we have expanded our services, offering free psychological support, social work assistance, and virtual workshops. Our goal is to equip families with knowledge because caring for a premature baby requires a different approach.”
What are the biggest challenges families of premature babies face, and how does APREM help address them?
“The most immediate challenge is coping with the emotional turmoil of having a premature baby. Even if a parent is medically informed, seeing their fragile child in the NICU can be overwhelming. The situation is so intense that it can even lead to post-traumatic stress disorder.
Because of this, psychological support is critical, even though many families struggle to ask for help. They also need formation to learn how to care for their child. APREM advocates for parental involvement as a crucial part of the healthcare team.”
How do you see the role of innovative medical technologies, such as those developed by Innitius, in improving early detection and management of preterm labor?
“I was truly excited when I first learned about Innitius’ work, and I immediately shared it with APREM. I met Rubén at an event where Innitius was receiving an award and was eager to connect with him. To my surprise, he wanted to connect with us as well.
Right now, the most effective approach is prevention. While neonatal care has improved tremendously: the core issue remains: preventing preterm births.
I really appreciate Innitius’ approach, which integrates maternal data, cervical assessment, and artificial intelligence. Your algorithm continues to improve, and I am particularly excited about the upcoming study in London, which has an impressive sample size. Innovations like this can help reduce false preterm labor diagnoses, unnecessary medication, and improve clinical decision-making.”
APREM collaborates with healthcare professionals, institutions, and policymakers. What role does research and innovation play in shaping the future of preterm birth care?
“Research is the key to improving and preventing preterm births. The most cutting-edge work, like what Innitius is doing, targets the root of the problem. Premature births carry significant emotional and financial costs for families and society. Reducing their occurrence benefits everyone.
At APREM, we deeply value scientific research and actively contribute to it. Our credibility within the scientific community and among healthcare professionals stems from our commitment to evidence- based advocacy. Prevention is crucial, and technology plays a vital role in this.”
How can technology providers like Innitius collaborate with patient advocacy groups like APREM to drive meaningful improvements in maternal and neonatal health?
“Medical professionals, including those at Innitius, need to actively engage with families. Premature birth is extremely complex, and considering different perspectives is essential. Too often, patient associations are treated merely as tools—for signing letters of support or providing research samples—without recognizing the value of our insights.
While this is improving, patient organizations are still sometimes viewed as outsiders rather than partners. Yet, collaboration is essential. By working together, we can provide better support for families. At APREM, we already work closely with professionals, ensuring that families receive the best possible care.”
What are APREM’s key goals and initiatives for the coming years?
“Our priority is continuity. In an increasingly individualistic society, supporting NGOs is becoming more challenging. Our aim is to keep APREM strong for another 25 years.
We also want to expand our presence on the ground. Although we provide support nationwide, we are opening local branches—we currently have five and will soon establish a sixth. Having local peer support, such as mothers meeting other mothers, makes a tremendous difference.
Additionally, we plan to enhance our educational programs for families. A particular concern of mine is the inclusion of vulnerable families in our initiatives. Social barriers, cultural differences, and even racism can make it difficult for some families to access critical resources for raising their children. Our goal is to ensure full participation and inclusion for all.”
Closing Thoughts
Our conversation with Concha has highlighted the critical role of patient advocacy, research, and innovation in improving outcomes for premature babies and their families. At Innitius, we are committed to advancing technologies that support early detection and better decision-making in maternal health.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to Concha and APREM for their invaluable contributions to this field. Together, through collaboration and innovation, we can work towards a future where fewer families face the challenges posed by premature birth.