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Premature Babies
Reviewed by Medicinsk Expert•Last updated: 2026-10-22•Pregnancy Reproduction

Premature Babies

A premature birth occurs when a baby is born before 37 completed weeks of pregnancy, often requiring specialized medical care due to underdeveloped organs.

Overview

Almost 1 of every 10 infants born in the United States are premature, or preemies. A premature birth is defined as a birth occurring before 37 completed weeks of pregnancy, whereas a full-term pregnancy is 40 weeks.

Health Risks

Important growth and development occur throughout pregnancy, particularly in the final months and weeks. Because they are born early, preemies weigh significantly less than full-term babies and may face health complications due to underdeveloped organs. Potential problems include:

  • Breathing problems
  • Feeding difficulties
  • Cerebral palsy
  • Developmental delay
  • Vision problems
  • Hearing problems

Treatment and Management

Preemies require specialized medical care in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). They remain in the NICU until their organ systems are capable of functioning on their own.

Frequently Asked Questions

Before leaving the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), an infant typically must maintain a stable body temperature in an open crib without an incubator, take all feedings by mouth (breast or bottle) while gaining weight consistently, and breathe independently without experiencing frequent apnea (pauses in breathing) or bradycardia (abnormally low heart rate) for a designated period, usually 5 to 7 consecutive days.
Preterm babies miss out on the critical transfer of nutrients, minerals, and fats that occurs during the third trimester. To support rapid brain growth and bone mineralization, breast milk is frequently mixed with human milk fortifiers containing concentrated protein, calcium, phosphorus, and vitamins. If formula is used, specialized preterm transitional formulas with higher caloric density and adjusted mineral ratios are prescribed.
Pediatricians use an adjusted age, also known as corrected age, to track developmental milestones. This is calculated by taking your baby's chronological age in weeks or months and subtracting the number of weeks they were born early. For example, if a 6-month-old infant was born 8 weeks early, their developmental milestones are evaluated based on a 4-month-old's expectations. Most children catch up to their peers developmentally by age two to three.
Parents should seek urgent medical care if a premature infant demonstrates signs of respiratory distress. These warning signs include rapid breathing (more than 60 breaths per minute), flaring of the nostrils, grunting sounds during exhalation, retractions (where the skin pulls tightly between the ribs or at the base of the throat during breaths), or a bluish tint around the lips, tongue, or nail beds.
Source: MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine

MedlinePlus brings together authoritative health information from the National Library of Medicine (NLM), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and other government agencies and health-related organizations.

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