What is Premature Birth?

When a baby is born before 37 weeks of pregnancy, it is considered a premature birth. Another name is premature baby birth. The earlier the birth, the more serious the health risks for the baby. Premature babies need careful monitoring and special care to help them grow and develop outside the womb.

What is Premature Birth?

A preterm or premature baby is a baby born very early or about three weeks before the due date. A normal pregnancy period is forty weeks on average. Premature birth occurs at 37 weeks or earlier. However, preterm birth can pose serious health risks to mother and baby.

What are the Possible Health Problems of the Premature Baby?

Babies need a full time in the womb to grow. If they are born too early, they may not fully develop. This can cause serious health problems. Premature babies tend to have heart, brain, lung or liver problems.

Some of the most common health conditions affecting premature babies include:

• Apnea of ​​prematurity or temporary pauses in breathing during sleep.
• Developmental disorder in the lungs.
• Cerebral hemorrhage.
• Intestinal inflammation.
• Neonatal sepsis or blood infection.
• Abnormalities in heartbeat and blood flow.
• Eye problems

Premature babies are at higher risk for developmental difficulties. They may experience health problems in the future. Some of these problems are:

• Cerebral palsy.
• Hearing and vision problems.
• Learning disorders.
• Developmental difficulties.

Does Premature Birth Have Risks for the mother?

A premature baby can have a huge emotional impact on the mother and the entire family. Those who have given birth prematurely may face the following risks:

• Anxiety.
• Postpartum depression.
• Post-traumatic stress disorder.
• Problems connecting emotionally with the baby.

What are the Causes of Premature Birth?

Premature births can happen suddenly for no known reason. Sometimes doctors have to start labor early for medical reasons. Women may also give birth prematurely for the following reasons:

• Chronic health conditions such as diabetes or infections.
• Drug or alcohol addiction.
• Multiple pregnancies such as twins or triplets.
• High blood pressure problem during pregnancy.
• Problems with the uterus or cervix.
• Too little time between pregnancies.
• Vaginal bleeding or various infections during pregnancy.

How is the Treatment of Premature Babies?

Premature babies usually need special medical care in the neonatal intensive care unit. This takes place in a special section of the hospital for babies in critical condition. Some babies are kept in hospital care for weeks or months.