If your baby is born prior to 38 weeks he is considered premature, or a preemie. Some women may deliver as early as 24 to 30 weeks of gestation. Their babies will spend many months in the neonatal intensive care unit. Generally, the earlier a baby is born, the higher the risk of complications, states the Mayo Clinic. For many women, the cause of premature birth is unknown. Some other causes of premature birth include maternal infection, smoking and drug use, an incompetent cervix, and a multiple pregnancy. There are some common complications that many premature babies face.
Breathing Difficulties
Many babies born prematurely have difficulties with breathing. Their lungs are immature and cannot fully function. There are many treatments in the neonatal unit for a preemie with breathing difficulty. A nasal cannula may be worn underneath the nares, blowing additional oxygen into the baby's nose. Some preemies may be placed underneath an oxygen tent. Babies with a more severe deficiency may be placed on a mechanical ventilator through a tube in either the nose or mouth. As the baby grows, gains weight and matures she should be able to breathe easily without assistance.
Feeding and Gastrointestinal Intolerance
A baby born prior to 37 weeks gestation may have difficulties with breast and bottle feeding. The suck, swallow and breathe reflex may not have fully developed. Preemies may need to be fed through a small tube that can be placed in either the nose (nasogastric) or mouth (orogastric). Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), a potentially dangerous intestinal problem, may occur in premature infants, reports the March of Dimes. Your baby's doctor will introduce food slowly while monitoring the baby closely to avoid NEC.
Intraventricular Hemmorhage
Intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) is bleeding in the brain tissue. This complication is more common when babies are born prior to 32 weeks of pregnancy. According to The March of Dimes, it can cause pressure in the brain and brain damage. This may lead to learning disabilities or developmental delays. If your baby is born before 32 weeks, your baby's doctor will do frequent brain scans to monitor your child for IVH.
