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Healthy Children > Ages & Stages > Baby > Preemie > Caring for a Premature Baby: What Parents Need to Know Ages & Stages Caring for a Premature Baby: What Parents Need to Know
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It is important to recognize that preterm deliveries, even if late preterm, should never be done for the convenience of the mother or obstetrician. Research has shown that late preterm babies have significantly greater risk for negative outcomes, and all efforts should be made to have babies reach full term. See Let Baby Set the Delivery Date: Wait until 39 Weeks if You Can. Characteristics of Babies Born PrematureWhile the average full-term baby weighs about 7 pounds (3.17 kg) at birth, a premature newborn might weigh 5 pounds (2.26 kg) or even considerably less. But thanks to medical advances, children born after twenty-eight weeks of pregnancy, and weighing more than 2 pounds 3 ounces (1 kg), have almost a full chance of survival; eight out of ten of those born after the thirtieth week have minimal long-term health or developmental problems, while those preterm babies born before twenty-eight weeks have more complications, and require intensive treatment and support in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). How Your Premature Baby Looks
How Your Premature Baby Acts
Preemie Parents: How to Cope with the StressAs important as this care is for your baby's survival, her move to the special-care nursery may be wrenching for you. On top of all the worry about her health, you may miss the experience of holding, breastfeeding, and bonding with her right after delivery. You won't be able to hold or touch her whenever you want, and you can't have her with you in your room. To deal with the stress of this experience, ask to see your baby as soon as possible after delivery, and become as active as you can in caring for her. See How You Can Participate in the Care of Your Baby in the NICU.
Your baby will be ready to come home once she's breathing on her own, able to maintain her body temperature, able to be fed by breast or bottle, and gaining weight steadily. Additional Information:
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The information contained on this Web site should not be used as a substitute for the medical care and advice of your pediatrician. There may be variations in treatment that your pediatrician may recommend based on individual facts and circumstances. Can a baby be born at 28 weeks and be healthy?Survival rates for infants born at 28 weeks gestation is between 80-90 percent. Babies born at 28 weeks old only have a 10 percent chance of having long-term health problems.
Will a baby born at 28 weeks need NICU?Outlook for a baby born at 26 to 28 weeks
And only 1 in 10 preemies born at 28 weeks have long-lasting health problems. However, these extremely preterm babies are at a higher risk for medical complications and may face an extended stay in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).
What are the risks of a baby born at 28 weeks?Premature babies are more likely to have chronic health issues — some of which may require hospital care — than are full-term infants. Infections, asthma and feeding problems are more likely to develop or persist. Premature infants are also at increased risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
How long do babies born at 28 weeks stay in NICU?However, 27- and 28-weekers still require a lot of medical care and can be expected to stay in the NICU for months. The retinas are still developing, which puts babies at risk for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP).
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