Premature babies by week and risks
Premature babies are those babies born before a woman's pregnancy's 37th week. If you've ever spent time inside a NICU, though, you know that preemies born at various stages of pregnancy are very different from each other.
All premature babies are small, need complex medical treatment, and both in the NICU and at home may face serious complications. However, a baby born 3 to 4 months early, from a baby born 1 to 2 months early, will face much different complications. Let's take a closer look at how, week by week, premature babies vary.
Weeks 23–24
About half of premature infants born between 23 and 24 weeks of pregnancy will survive childbirth and live outside the NICU to see life. Babies who are born before 23 weeks of age will survive.
Amillia Taylor, born at just 21 weeks and 6 days gestation, was the youngest preemie ever to survive (23 to 24 weeks is often considered the age of viability for premature babies).
Micro-preemies are referred to as premature infants born between 23 and 24 weeks of gestation. They weigh just over a pound from their head to their bottoms and measure about 8 inches long. To keep them safe, as they have not yet developed brown fat, babies born at this time will be covered by fine hair called lanugo.
Their skin is very thin and delicate as well. While their eyes are most likely to be fused shut, they will have eyelashes and brows completely grown. They'll have small fingernails, too.
That said, at 23 to 24 weeks of gestation, most of the body's systems are underdeveloped. The lower airways are just starting to grow, which is why many 23-weekers and 24-weekers will require long periods of respiratory support.
Babies have fully-formed hearing systems at this age. Although that suggests that your voice can be heard, noisy sounds can overstimulate and overpower your underdeveloped https://teachmixer.com/coloring-pages/nervous-system-coloring-page-13597/ nervous system.
Weeks 25–26
At 25 to 26 weeks, when measured from head to toe, premature babies weigh about 1 1/2 to 2 pounds and are about 9 inches long. Micro-preemies are also called babies born at this time, and they face lengthy NICU stays and have many prematurity-related health problems.
By 26 weeks of gestation, the lungs of premature babies begin to produce alveoli, the air sacs that permit gas exchange. While they are still too young to breathe without assistance, this is a significant achievement.
The growth of the startle reflex is another developmental landmark for 25 and 26 week-enders. A baby born at this time would be frightened by loud sounds, a natural nervous system reaction.
At this point, the footprints and fingerprints of a baby also grow.
Weeks 27–28
By 27 weeks, micro-preemies are no longer considered to be premature infants. Now called "very premature babies," these babies have a survival rate of more than 95 percent past birth and NICU discharge.
27 and 28 weekenders, however, also need a lot of medical attention and can be expected to stay for long periods of time in the NICU.
Premature babies weigh about 2 1/2 pounds at 28 weeks and measure about 16 inches long from head to toe. Rapid eye growth is happening. Premature infants born after 27 weeks will blink and have no fused eyelids anymore.
The retinas are still developing, placing babies at risk for premature retinopathy (ROP). Their eyes, at this point, can shape pictures.
Premature babies are now beginning to develop more organized sleep/wake cycles at 27 and 28 weeks and may have REM sleep intervals.
Weeks 29–30
A growing baby has matured a great deal by 29-30 weeks. Long NICU stays would still involve premature babies born between 29 and 30 weeks, but their vital organs are far more developed than those of babies born earlier.
Premature infants weigh about 3 pounds at 29 to 30 weeks and are around 17 inches long. While they are still very small, there is more fat under their skin stored by 29 weekers and 30 weekers, making them look more like "real" infants.
They are also beginning to shed their lanugo (the fine hair which covers the body of a preemie). Their eyes will now blink, but they are generally still uncomfortable with bright lights and noisy noises.
Besides all this outside maturity, the brain is also going through a period of rapid growth. The brains of premature 29- and 30-week-old babies are beginning to look grooved and wrinkled. They are also sufficiently mature to begin to regulate body temperature.
At this age, with swaddling and nesting, the premature baby feels safe and comfortable.
Also, their stomach and intestines are maturing at this time and preparing to digest milk. They are not ready to nipple feed yet, but they may start sucking on a pacifier to help develop their muscles for feeding.
Kangaroo care when being fed, in addition to using the pacifier, can help your baby grow. It will help you bond with your baby as well.
Weeks 31–32
Premature babies weigh between 3 1/2 and 4 pounds at 31 to 32 weeks, and are between 18 and 19 inches long. That's almost as long as the term-born infant. They will give birth to preterm babies:
- Extremely pre-mature (less than 28 weeks)
- Quite premature (28 to 32 weeks)
- Moderate to late preterm choice (32 to 37 weeks)
Concerns over wellbeing for moderately preterm babies
While they are still premature at birth and need several weeks of NICU treatment, most babies born between 31 and 32 weeks catch up easily with their peers and have little long-term prematurity effects.
Babies accumulate a lot of body fat between 31 and 32 weeks. Premature babies born at this age tend to look plump and without the assistance of an incubator will be able to maintain good body temperature.
They use all five senses to learn about their surroundings, but bright lights and noisy noises can still overstimulate them. Overstimulation may be conveyed by their surroundings via a hiccup, sneeze, or scream. That being said, your baby will probably enjoy seeing your face up close at this age.
Parents usually want to know when the NICU will allow their babies to come home. Although your baby looks like a smaller version of a full-term baby at this age, your baby still needs special care, particularly as their immune health continues to mature and they develop suck for feeding. While your child will be more awake, it is important to protect their sleep, so they can continue to develop and grow.
There are several milestones that premature babies need to meet before discharge: They need to be able to feed, breathe, and remain warm without any support from NICU personnel or equipment.
It may be possible for preemies born at 31 and 32 weeks to do one or two of these things at birth, but it will take time to hit all three milestones.
Weeks 33–34
Premature babies born between 33 and 34 weeks are also known as "moderately preterm babies." These babies are getting much closer to the size of a baby born at term, weighing between 4 and 5 pounds at birth and measuring about 20 inches long.
While they are getting larger, 33 and 34 weekenders are still immature and will need to stay for several weeks in the NICU.
By 33 and 34 weeks, premature babies are almost fully grown. Their bones are fully developed, their fingernails hit the ends of their fingertips, and the testicles come down into the scrotum in boys.
However, before the last weeks of pregnancy, the respiratory system does not finish forming and antibodies are just beginning to move from mom to infant, so their immune health is still a little compromised.
Many premature babies will have reasonably brief NICU stays with just a few complications at 33 and 34 weeks. For a limited time, they may need assistance breathing, but learning to eat may take the longest. The suck-swallow-breathe reflex is not well-coordinated, and these babies may not be healthy enough to develop and gain weight with adequate nourishment.
It is also important to look out for signs of environmental over-stimulation during this period, such as hiccuping, sneezing, weeping, or arching away. During this time, protecting your baby's time to sleep is very necessary.
Weeks 35–36
"late preterm infants." are considered premature babies born at 35 to 36 weeks. These babies are about 20 inches long and usually weigh between 5 1/2 and 6 pounds. 35 and 36 weekers look much like babies who are full-term, but they are also premature and may face some premature problems.
The majority of babies have turned to a head-down role in the last weeks of pregnancy. They have reached their maximum height, are gradually gaining weight, have fingernails that reach the tips of their toes, and have footprints that are completely developed.
Although they look like full-term infants, 35 and 36 are still premature babies.
For another couple of weeks, their lungs may not be fully formed, and they do not have enough fat to keep warm or enough strength to effectively breast or bottle feed. It is necessary to continue safeguarding their sleep and time in the NICU until they are ready to go home.
Premature babies are those babies born before a woman's pregnancy's 37th week. If you've ever spent time inside a NICU, though, you know that preemies born at various stages of pregnancy are very different from each other.
All premature babies are small, need complex medical treatment, and both in the NICU and at home may face serious complications. However, a baby born 3 to 4 months early, from a baby born 1 to 2 months early, will face much different complications. Let's take a closer look at how, week by week, premature babies vary.
All premature babies are small, need complex medical treatment, and both in the NICU and at home may face serious complications. However, a baby born 3 to 4 months early, from a baby born 1 to 2 months early, will face much different complications. Let's take a closer look at how, week by week, premature babies vary.
Weeks 23–24
About half of premature infants born between 23 and 24 weeks of pregnancy will survive childbirth and live outside the NICU to see life. Babies who are born before 23 weeks of age will survive.
Amillia Taylor, born at just 21 weeks and 6 days gestation, was the youngest preemie ever to survive (23 to 24 weeks is often considered the age of viability for premature babies).
Micro-preemies are referred to as premature infants born between 23 and 24 weeks of gestation. They weigh just over a pound from their head to their bottoms and measure about 8 inches long. To keep them safe, as they have not yet developed brown fat, babies born at this time will be covered by fine hair called lanugo.
Their skin is very thin and delicate as well. While their eyes are most likely to be fused shut, they will have eyelashes and brows completely grown. They'll have small fingernails, too.
That said, at 23 to 24 weeks of gestation, most of the body's systems are underdeveloped. The lower airways are just starting to grow, which is why many 23-weekers and 24-weekers will require long periods of respiratory support.
Babies have fully-formed hearing systems at this age. Although that suggests that your voice can be heard, noisy sounds can overstimulate and overpower your underdeveloped https://teachmixer.com/coloring-pages/nervous-system-coloring-page-13597/ nervous system.
Weeks 25–26
At 25 to 26 weeks, when measured from head to toe, premature babies weigh about 1 1/2 to 2 pounds and are about 9 inches long. Micro-preemies are also called babies born at this time, and they face lengthy NICU stays and have many prematurity-related health problems.
By 26 weeks of gestation, the lungs of premature babies begin to produce alveoli, the air sacs that permit gas exchange. While they are still too young to breathe without assistance, this is a significant achievement.
The growth of the startle reflex is another developmental landmark for 25 and 26 week-enders. A baby born at this time would be frightened by loud sounds, a natural nervous system reaction.
At this point, the footprints and fingerprints of a baby also grow.
Weeks 27–28
By 27 weeks, micro-preemies are no longer considered to be premature infants. Now called "very premature babies," these babies have a survival rate of more than 95 percent past birth and NICU discharge.
27 and 28 weekenders, however, also need a lot of medical attention and can be expected to stay for long periods of time in the NICU.
Premature babies weigh about 2 1/2 pounds at 28 weeks and measure about 16 inches long from head to toe. Rapid eye growth is happening. Premature infants born after 27 weeks will blink and have no fused eyelids anymore.
The retinas are still developing, placing babies at risk for premature retinopathy (ROP). Their eyes, at this point, can shape pictures.
Premature babies are now beginning to develop more organized sleep/wake cycles at 27 and 28 weeks and may have REM sleep intervals.
Weeks 29–30
A growing baby has matured a great deal by 29-30 weeks. Long NICU stays would still involve premature babies born between 29 and 30 weeks, but their vital organs are far more developed than those of babies born earlier.
Premature infants weigh about 3 pounds at 29 to 30 weeks and are around 17 inches long. While they are still very small, there is more fat under their skin stored by 29 weekers and 30 weekers, making them look more like "real" infants.
They are also beginning to shed their lanugo (the fine hair which covers the body of a preemie). Their eyes will now blink, but they are generally still uncomfortable with bright lights and noisy noises.
Besides all this outside maturity, the brain is also going through a period of rapid growth. The brains of premature 29- and 30-week-old babies are beginning to look grooved and wrinkled. They are also sufficiently mature to begin to regulate body temperature.
At this age, with swaddling and nesting, the premature baby feels safe and comfortable.
Also, their stomach and intestines are maturing at this time and preparing to digest milk. They are not ready to nipple feed yet, but they may start sucking on a pacifier to help develop their muscles for feeding.
Kangaroo care when being fed, in addition to using the pacifier, can help your baby grow. It will help you bond with your baby as well.
Weeks 31–32
Premature babies weigh between 3 1/2 and 4 pounds at 31 to 32 weeks, and are between 18 and 19 inches long. That's almost as long as the term-born infant. They will give birth to preterm babies:
- Extremely pre-mature (less than 28 weeks)
- Quite premature (28 to 32 weeks)
- Moderate to late preterm choice (32 to 37 weeks)
Concerns over wellbeing for moderately preterm babies
While they are still premature at birth and need several weeks of NICU treatment, most babies born between 31 and 32 weeks catch up easily with their peers and have little long-term prematurity effects.
Babies accumulate a lot of body fat between 31 and 32 weeks. Premature babies born at this age tend to look plump and without the assistance of an incubator will be able to maintain good body temperature.
They use all five senses to learn about their surroundings, but bright lights and noisy noises can still overstimulate them. Overstimulation may be conveyed by their surroundings via a hiccup, sneeze, or scream. That being said, your baby will probably enjoy seeing your face up close at this age.
Parents usually want to know when the NICU will allow their babies to come home. Although your baby looks like a smaller version of a full-term baby at this age, your baby still needs special care, particularly as their immune health continues to mature and they develop suck for feeding. While your child will be more awake, it is important to protect their sleep, so they can continue to develop and grow.
There are several milestones that premature babies need to meet before discharge: They need to be able to feed, breathe, and remain warm without any support from NICU personnel or equipment.
It may be possible for preemies born at 31 and 32 weeks to do one or two of these things at birth, but it will take time to hit all three milestones.
Weeks 33–34
Premature babies born between 33 and 34 weeks are also known as "moderately preterm babies." These babies are getting much closer to the size of a baby born at term, weighing between 4 and 5 pounds at birth and measuring about 20 inches long.
While they are getting larger, 33 and 34 weekenders are still immature and will need to stay for several weeks in the NICU.
By 33 and 34 weeks, premature babies are almost fully grown. Their bones are fully developed, their fingernails hit the ends of their fingertips, and the testicles come down into the scrotum in boys.
However, before the last weeks of pregnancy, the respiratory system does not finish forming and antibodies are just beginning to move from mom to infant, so their immune health is still a little compromised.
Many premature babies will have reasonably brief NICU stays with just a few complications at 33 and 34 weeks. For a limited time, they may need assistance breathing, but learning to eat may take the longest. The suck-swallow-breathe reflex is not well-coordinated, and these babies may not be healthy enough to develop and gain weight with adequate nourishment.
It is also important to look out for signs of environmental over-stimulation during this period, such as hiccuping, sneezing, weeping, or arching away. During this time, protecting your baby's time to sleep is very necessary.
Weeks 35–36
"late preterm infants." are considered premature babies born at 35 to 36 weeks. These babies are about 20 inches long and usually weigh between 5 1/2 and 6 pounds. 35 and 36 weekers look much like babies who are full-term, but they are also premature and may face some premature problems.
The majority of babies have turned to a head-down role in the last weeks of pregnancy. They have reached their maximum height, are gradually gaining weight, have fingernails that reach the tips of their toes, and have footprints that are completely developed.
Although they look like full-term infants, 35 and 36 are still premature babies.
For another couple of weeks, their lungs may not be fully formed, and they do not have enough fat to keep warm or enough strength to effectively breast or bottle feed. It is necessary to continue safeguarding their sleep and time in the NICU until they are ready to go home.
Premature babies are those babies born before a woman's pregnancy's 37th week. If you've ever spent time inside a NICU, though, you know that preemies born at various stages of pregnancy are very different from each other.
All premature babies are small, need complex medical treatment, and both in the NICU and at home may face serious complications. However, a baby born 3 to 4 months early, from a baby born 1 to 2 months early, will face much different complications. Let's take a closer look at how, week by week, premature babies vary.
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