Preterm birth (PTB) continues to pose a challenge in neonatal medicine and it is the major cause of perinatal morbidity and mortality. Despite modern advances in obstetric and perinatal care, neonatal outcomes are still unsatisfactory due to high preterm birth rates [1]. PTB affects approximately 5 – 9% of births in Europe, 12 – 14% in the United States, and around 18% in Africa and Asia [2,3]. PTB leads to severe neonatal complications, negatively affects the mental well-being of parents, and is associated with substantial economic costs due to the need for specialized medical support. According to the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Neonatal Research Network report on very low birth weight (less than 1500 g), the complications of preterm birth include respiratory distress (93% of infants), retinopathy of prematurity (59%), patent ductus arteriosus (46%), bronchopulmonary dysplasia (42%), late-onset sepsis (36%), necrotizing enterocolitis (11%), severe intraventricular hemorrhage (7 – 9%), and periventricular leukomalacia (3%) [4].