The youngest preemie ever to survive was Amillia Taylor, who was born at only 21 weeks and 6 days gestation 23 to 24 weeks is often considered the age of viability for premature babies.
Premature babies born between 23 to 24 weeks gestation are called micro-preemies. They weigh just over a pound and measure about 8 inches long from their head to their bottoms.
Babies born at this time will be covered by fine hair called lanugo , to keep them warm, as they have not yet developed brown fat. Their skin is also very thin and delicate. Although their eyes will most likely be fused shut, they'll have fully developed eyelashes and brows. They will even have tiny fingernails. That being said, most of the body's systems are underdeveloped at 23 to 24 weeks gestation.
The lower airways are only beginning to develop, which is why many weekers and weekers will need respiratory support for long periods of time. Babies at this age have fully formed hearing systems. While that means they can hear your voice , loud noises can be overstimulating and overwhelming to their underdeveloped nervous system. Babies born at this time are also called micro-preemies, and they face long NICU stays and have many health issues related to prematurity.
By 26 weeks gestation, premature babies' lungs are starting to develop alveoli, the air sacs that allow gas exchange. Another developmental milestones for 25 and 26 weekers is the development of the startle reflex.
A baby born at this time will startle at loud noises—a normal reaction of their nervous system. A babie's footprints and fingerprints are also developing at this stage.
By 27 weeks , premature babies are no longer considered micro-preemies. However, 27 and 28 weekers still require a lot of medical care and can be expected to stay in the NICU for long periods of time. Rapid eye development is occurring. Premature babies born after 27 weeks can blink and no longer have fused eyelids. The retinas are still developing, which puts babies at risk for retinopathy of prematurity ROP. Their eyes can form images at this stage. By 29 to 30 weeks, a growing baby has matured a lot.
Premature babies born between 29 and 30 weeks will still require long NICU stays, but their vital organs are much more developed than those of babies born earlier. At 29 to 30 weeks, premature babies weigh about 3 pounds and are about 17 inches long. While they're still very small, 29 weekers and 30 weekers have more fat stored under their skin , making them look more like "real" babies.
They are also starting to shed their lanugo the fine hair that covers a preemie's body. Their eyes can now blink, but bright lights and loud noises are usually still uncomfortable. In addition to all of this outside maturity, the brain goes through a period of rapid growth as well. Your medical team will counsel you about your baby's prognosis, and you can opt to wait or be induced.
If your water breaks before 34 weeks but you're not having contractions, your medical team may decide to induce labor or may opt to wait, hoping to buy the baby more time to mature. It depends on how far along you are and whether there's any sign of infection or other reason that your baby would be better off being delivered.
In any case, unless you've had a recent negative GBS test, you'll be given antibiotics to protect against group B strep. If you're at 34 weeks or more, and your water had broken, you may be induced or delivered by cesarean section.
On the other hand, if you're less than 34 weeks pregnant, ACOG recommends waiting to deliver unless there's a clear reason to do otherwise. The purpose of waiting is to try to give your baby more time to mature. The downside is a higher risk of infection. But at early gestational ages, the benefits of waiting usually outweigh the risks of an immediate induction or c-section.
While waiting, you'll receive antibiotics for seven days, to lower the risk of infections and help prolong your pregnancy. You'll also receive a course of corticosteroids to help hasten your baby's lung development.
You and your baby will be monitored carefully during this time. Of course, if you develop symptoms of an infection or there are other signs that your baby is not thriving, you'll be induced or delivered by c-section.
Premature babies may need to stay in the NICU until their medical problems resolve, they can feed well without issues, and they've grown big enough. See what happens in the neonatal intensive care unit and how the littlest babies are treated. BabyCenter's editorial team is committed to providing the most helpful and trustworthy pregnancy and parenting information in the world. When creating and updating content, we rely on credible sources: respected health organizations, professional groups of doctors and other experts, and published studies in peer-reviewed journals.
We believe you should always know the source of the information you're seeing. Learn more about our editorial and medical review policies. Reaffirmed Antenatal corticosteroid therapy for fetal maturation. Committee opinion number The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Cerclage for the management of cervical insufficiency. Extremely preterm birth. Medically indicated late-preterm and early-erm deliveries. Prediction and prevention of preterm birth.
The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Preterm Premature labor and birth: Resource overview. Practice bulletin: Management of preterm labor.
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Roberts D. Antenatal corticosteroids for accelerating fetal lung maturation for women at risk of preterm birth. Cochrane Reviews. Preterm labor and premature birth: Are you at risk March of Dimes. Join now to personalize. Photo credit: Thinkstock. What are preterm labor and preterm birth? How often does preterm birth happen? What are the symptoms of preterm labor? What could happen if my baby is premature?
What causes spontaneous preterm birth? What are the risk factors for spontaneous preterm birth? Are there tests that can predict my chances of having a preterm delivery? What else can I do if I'm at high risk? What will happen if I start having preterm labor? Welcoming your baby earlier than expected can be overwhelming, to say the least. Here are some key facts to help you prepare for the road ahead. How to help your baby thrive in the NICU.
While often the size and weight of full-term newborns, these infants can be at a higher risk of health problems. One is having a stable temperature. The other is not having jaundice and needing phototherapy.
And the third is being able to eat well. The Canadian Pediatric Society estimates that 60 percent of full-term newborns will develop jaundice, a condition caused by the build-up of bilirubin, a yellow substance that forms as red blood cells break down. For example, most babies who are born earlier than 32 weeks of pregnancy will need help with breathing. Low birth weight is when babies weigh less than 2. Low birth weight can happen because premature babies are born before they get the chance to put on weight in the last weeks or months of pregnancy.
These babies have low birth weight, but their development is appropriate for their gestational age. Extremely premature babies — for example, those born at 24 weeks of gestation — will be quite small and might fit snugly into your hand. They might look exhausted and have fragile, translucent skin. Their eyes might still be fused shut. There are also some other factors that are associated with a premature birth. These include poor or not enough nutrition, too much physical activity, smoking, alcohol and other drug use, too much stress, anxiety, depression, obesity, underweight and lack of prenatal care.
Being under 17 years or over 35 years can also be a factor in premature birth.
0コメント