Facts About Preterm Pregnancy

The pregnancy period lasts for an average of forty weeks, by which time an infant becomes fully developed. A baby born before the end of 37 weeks is considered to be a preterm baby. A preterm baby is often less than five pounds. These babies are called preterm babies since they are not in their mother's womb for the full term of 36 to 40 weeks. Earlier all low weight babies were considered to be preterm babies. But now it has been defined that babies that are born before their full term are called as preterm.

Babies born as preterm usually weigh between 5 pounds and 8 pounds. These premature babies tend to have very little body fat. They have less muscle strength and tone. Since these babies are born too soon, many of their biological systems such as lungs and liver are not fully developed for them to function on their own. This may result in jaundice or breathing development when the babies are born. Though the biological immaturity may be a concern for the development of the baby, the weight of the baby plays a main role. The lesser the weight the more high is the rate of risk for the baby to survive.

These babies have to be given special attention to, immediately after their birth. They would have to be placed in the intensive care unit called Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Here, there are specially trained nurses to take care of such babies under the supervision of specially trained doctors for the new born called neonatologists. In addition to the neonatalogist and the trained nurses there are respiratory therapist, occupational therapist and others to give immediate attention to the babies as per their requirements.

These babies are kept in the incubators to increase the temperature level so that the babies get enough warmth for survival. The babies have to be in the incubator until they are able to maintain their body temperature. Incubators are mainly used to maintain a thermo neutral environment for the preterm babies. The babies are transferred from the NICU to open cots first to check whether they are able to withstand the temperature before they are sent home.

The neonatal care unit has trained nurses to provide nursing care for the mothers and their babies. Those hospitals that do not have the neonatal intensive care unit as part of their nursing home transfer the babies immediately after birth to a private nursing home that has all the facilities of the neonatal intensive care unit. Sometimes, mothers who expect early delivery are immediately transferred to such nursing homes so that as soon as they deliver their babies, the babies are taken care of by the intensive care unit.