Premature Newborn

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If your baby is born before the 37th week of your pregnancy, he or she is considered a premature infant.
 
A premature baby often has special health needs because some of his or her organs are not fully developed. Exactly how early your baby is born before the 37th week will determine the extent of its health problems and the type of care needed.

Premature Baby Health Concerns

Often, a premature baby lacks the body fat necessary to maintain his or her body temperature, even when he or she is swaddled with blankets.
 
The baby's lungs, kidneys, liver, digestive system, and heart must be fully developed to function on his or her own.
 
When a baby is born before everything is fully developed, some of these health problems can occur:

• Jaundice
• Apnea of prematurity
• Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE)
• Intracranial hemorrhage
• Retinopathy of prematurity
• Respiratory distress syndrome
• Chronic lung disease
• Cardiovascular
• Hypoglycemia
• Feeding problems
• Anemia

Treating Premature Babies

If you have a premature baby, he or she will be cared for in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Here, your baby will have access to advanced technology and specialized medical professionals.
 
Your baby will be in an incubator in order to keep it warm. Unlike a standard crib, an incubator completely surrounds a baby, which helps it retain heat and decreases the chance of infection. Other equipment, such as ventilators and feeding tubes, are used if necessary until your baby is strong enough to function its own.
 
The healthcare team who work in the NICU includes neonatologists (pediatricians trained to care for sick and premature babies), respiratory therapists, occupational therapists, dietitians, lactation consultants, pharmacists, social workers, and hospital chaplains.
 
Throughout life, a premature baby is more likely to require services provided by physical therapists, occupational therapists, or speech therapists. As your baby grows, his or her doctor will pay close attention to how his or her nervous system is developing, and at what point he or she reaches milestones such as smiling, sitting, and walking.

Dealing with the Stress of Leaving my Baby in the NICU?

During pregnancy, parents anticipate the day when their baby is born and they'll all go home. Having to leave your infant in the hospital can be very emotional. It's important that you spend time in the NICU, but its also important to leave at times to take care of yourself and your family.

Here are tips to help you cope:

• Ask the hospital if they have a support group for parents
• Allow yourself to vent to a friend
• Do not hold in your emotions cry and acknowledge your sadness
• Try to take care of your own health
• Contact your pastor, rabbi, priest, minister, or imam for support and reflection

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Learn More About Early Intervention

• What is Early Intervention?
• Understanding Services
• Contacts in Your State

Therapy Options

Thankfully, there are many ways to deal with childhood developmental delays and behaviors. These include in-home services, outpatient (you take your child to a clinic), inpatient (following injury or surgery) and school based services. Which type of therapy should you choose?

Visit our Therapy Options area to learn more.

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