What is Premature Birth?
It is a birth that is at least three weeks before a baby’s due date. It is also known as preterm birth (or less than 37 weeks — full term is about 40 weeks). Prematurity is the leading cause of death among newborn babies. Being born premature is also a serious health risk for a baby. Some babies will require special care and spend weeks or months hospitalized in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Those who survive may face lifelong problems such as— • Intellectual disabilities, • Cerebral palsy, • Breathing and respiratory problems, • Vision and hearing loss, and • Feeding and digestive problems. Although the more preterm a baby is born, the more severe his or her health problems are likely to be, even babies born just a few weeks early can have more health problems than full-term babies. For example, a baby born at 35 weeks is more likely to have— • Jaundice, • Breathing problems, and • Longer hospital stays. Doctors sometimes decide to deliver a baby early because of concerns for
