Difference Between Preterm and Premature Pregnancy

There is a major difference between preterm and premature pregnancies. Most pregnancies last around 40 weeks. Preterm means before the end of the full term of 40 weeks or before the gestational period. Whereas premature means before maturity. Most common occurrence is the preterm babies who are born before their full gestational period. Most premature babies are preterm, but most preterm babies are not premature. All preterm and premature babies are at risk for serious health problems. But due to modern obstetrics and neonatology, the special branches for new born have helped to overcome these risk.

When babies are born before the completion of the 37^th week, they are called as Preterm babies. These babies, though they may be born early, would have attained their full growth. These babies can survive the outer world without any medical help. But most babies are born with less weight and with their organs not fully developed and hence have to be placed in intensive care unit until they attain their full term. They are usually placed in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).

Premature babies are babies that are not completely developed. These babies have specific problems pertaining to the organs that are under developed. These babies not necessarily have to be born less than 37 weeks. There may be cases where the babies would have attained their full term but yet are born with under developed organs. These babies are also put in neonatal care units to give special attention to their needs. They are specifically treated for their conditions. For example, babies that have underdeveloped lungs will have to be given artificial respiration, an artificial breathing machine or the ventilator. Sometimes the treatment that is given to these underdeveloped organs may lead to other complications.

Post term and post maturity are also two different things. A post term baby is a baby that is born after its full term, babies that have crossed 42 weeks in the mother's womb. A post mature baby is one that has been in the mother's womb for more than the 42 weeks, such that the placenta starts becoming inefficient. Most of the post mature babies are post term, but not necessarily all the post term babies are post mature. Usually they go through the cesarean section.

Whether born as preterm or premature, these babies are placed in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). These special intensive care units have all the facilities to help and increase the survival of these special babies. Post term and post mature babies also are placed in these special intensive care units until they are safe enough to be sent home.