At time of publication, about 12.8 percent of babies in America were born premature, according to the March of Dimes, a rate that has increased by 36 percent since the early 1980s. While the outlook for the survival and health of these babies has improved over the last few decades, premature babies are still quite vulnerable when compared to full-term infants. The specific prognosis and care needed for a premature baby depends mainly on how many weeks of pregnancy she spent in the womb and how much she weighs at birth.
Definition
A premature baby is any infant born before 37 weeks of gestation. The majority of these babies are born between weeks 34 and 36, and their chance of survival is high. Only 6 percent of premature babies are younger than 28 weeks, although even babies born at 26 weeks gestation have about an 80 percent survival rate with modern medical care, explains the March of Dimes. The time of gestation is calculated based on the mother's last menstrual period, which actually occurs about 14 days before conception, so these babies are really two weeks younger than the date implies.
Causes
The cause of most cases of preterm labor and premature birth remains unknown. In some circumstances, premature birth is due to induced labor or a Cesarean section performed because of health problems in the mother or the baby. Doctors recommend this course of action if the health issues are likely to be more dangerous for the mother or baby than premature birth. Some cases of premature birth occur because the placenta or cervix has abnormalities that make them unable to sustain the pregnancy. Infections in the mother might also induce premature labor and birth, and lifestyle factors such as obesity, smoking and high stress can increase the risk of having a premature baby.
Complications
The older a premature baby is at birth, the higher his chances for survival are, and it is more likely he will be able to recover and develop normally. According to KidsHealth.org, premature babies weighing just under 2 lbs. have a 90 percent chance of survival and fewer health problems than smaller babies. Premature infants often have respiratory problems, bleeding in the brain, heart problems, intestinal issues, chronic lung disease, infections, jaundice and anemia. Babies born prematurely might face lifelong learning disabilities, mental retardation and lung problems and could be at increased risk for chronic diseases, such as heart disease and diabetes.
Treatments
Premature babies often go immediately to the neonatal intensive care unit, or NICU, of the hospital where they are born. Because they cannot adequately regulate their body temperature, premature babies are usually kept in incubators. Some older premature babies can breastfeed or consume special formula designed for premature infants, while others need intravenous nourishment. Specific treatment varies among babies and is based on the specific health problems a given baby exhibits.
