Premature babies are cared for by a neonatologist. This is a doctor with special training to care for newborns. Other specialists may also care for babies, depending on their health problems. Premature babies are born before their bodies and organ systems have completely matured. These babies are smaller than they would have been if they were born at full term.
They may need help breathing, eating, fighting infection, and staying warm. Extremely premature babies, those born before 28 weeks, are at the greatest risk for problems. And they may be too immature to function well. Premature babies can have long-term health problems as well. Generally, the more premature the baby, the more serious and long-lasting the health problems may be. More babies are surviving even though they are born early and are very small. But it is best to prevent preterm labor if possible.
It's important to get good prenatal care while you are pregnant. Your healthcare provider can help find problems and suggest lifestyle changes to lower the risk for preterm labor and birth. This is common for very premature babies. Your baby will grow out of it. Our article on touching, holding and massaging your baby has more information on comfort holding and kangaroo care.
At weeks, babies in the womb continue to put on weight and grow longer. But if your premature baby is sick, his weight gain might not keep up with a baby in the womb. Or he might respond to your voice but get stressed by other noises.
His responses will start to give you some clues to what he likes and dislikes. To breastfeed, she needs to know how to suck, swallow and breathe in the right order. But if your baby is medically stable, you might be able to start skin-to-skin contact by doing kangaroo care.
In the womb a baby keeps getting heavier and longer, starts to move more often, knows the difference between some sounds — for example, voices and music — starts to grasp with his hands, and opens and shuts his eyes.
At this age, your premature baby will still be well supported with bedding and positioning, but she might move and stretch more actively as her muscle tone gets better.
Don't push her to catch up to a chronological norm or expect more from her than she can possibly accomplish. As you would with any child, encourage her by providing stimulation, support, and lots of opportunities to achieve. The differences between full-term and premature babies are the most pronounced in the first year but may continue to be clinically significant through the second.
Generally, however, gaps close by age two or two and a half. The educational health content on What To Expect is reviewed by our medical review board and team of experts to be up-to-date and in line with the latest evidence-based medical information and accepted health guidelines, including the medically reviewed What to Expect books by Heidi Murkoff.
This educational content is not medical or diagnostic advice. Use of this site is subject to our terms of use and privacy policy. Registry Builder New. As your baby grows, their rate of weight gain will be an important indicator for overall health and development…. With less time to develop in the womb, premature babies are more likely to have health issues.
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