Pregnancy does not always last 40 weeks, but babies who are born before their mothers have been pregnant for 37 weeks are considered to be premature. Some of these babies go on to live full and healthy lives, but others die or have health problems that last the rest of their lives.
Retinopathy of Prematurity
According to the National Institutes of Health, about 10 percent of premature infants will develop more severe retinal disease. A fetus begins developing his blood vessels in his retina at about 3 months gestation, and this development continues until 40 weeks gestation. When birth occurs early, the vessels may stop growing or may grow abnormally, which can lead to bleeding in the eye, scar tissue from the eye's inner surface, long-term vision problems and blindness.
Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia (BPD)
Premature infants that receive high levels of oxygen for long periods of time or who have been placed on a ventilator are at risk of developing bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). Symptoms of this condition include blue-colored skin, chronic cough, rapid breathing and shortness of breath. Infants with this condition are at risk for developing pneumonia, inflammation of the bronchi, pulmonary hypertension, poor growth, developmental problems and RSV.
Cerebral Palsy
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, cerebral palsy usually is diagnosed by age 3 years old, and it effects about 2 to 3 children for every 1,000 births. These children may experience mental retardation, trouble learning, an altered sense of touch, vision problems, as well as hearing and speech problems. Symptoms range in severity and will not become more severe as the child ages.
Patent Ductus Arteriosus
The aorta and pulmonary arteries are connected by a blood vessel called the ductus arteriosus, which plays an essential role in circulating blood in a fetus. This vessel is supposed to close after a child is born but when it remains open more than a few days after birth, the infant has a condition referred to as patent ductus arteriosus (PDA). This condition occurs in about 8 out of every 1,000 premature births, and affected infants may experience labored breathing, fatigue, excessive sweating, difficult eating and poor weight gain.
Prevention
Prenatal care does not assure a healthy, full-term pregnancy but decreases the chance of going into preterm labor. Avoid smoking, drinking and taking illicit drugs before and during your pregnancy. Increase your intake of folic acid and other nutrients by taking a prenatal vitamin, and eat healthy food throughout your pregnancy.
