What is premature baby?

A preterm birth may happen suddenly or after days or weeks of waiting. If you know you may deliver early, you can be better prepared.

During preterm labor, both you and your baby are considered high-risk. This means that you will have less freedom to move about and fewer choices about the birth.

Monitoring.

• You'll be on constant fetal heart monitoring. The monitor will limit your movement, but it's a good way for the doctor to learn how well your baby is doing.
• You'll also be checked regularly for changes in your heart rate, body temperature, and uterine contractions.

Medicines.

You can refuse pain medicine during preterm labor. But medicines such as antibiotics or corticosteroids can be important to ensure your infant's chances of good health after birth.

Delivery.

You'll probably deliver vaginally. But if your health or your baby's health is at risk, you may need a cesarean section (C-section).

Most infants born at 36 and 37 weeks' gestation are mature enough to go home from the hospital. But babies born earlier may need care in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), where they can be:

• Watched closely for infections and changes in breathing and heart rate.
• Kept warm in enclosed cribs called isolettes until they can maintain their body heat.
• Fed through a vein (intravenously) or through a tube in their nose, if needed. Tube-feeding continues until a baby is able to breathe, suck, and swallow and can take all feedings by breast or bottle.

Sick and very premature infants may need other treatments, depending on what problems they have. A baby who needs help breathing may have an oxygen tube or a machine, called a ventilator, that moves air in and out of the lungs. Some babies may need medicine or surgery.

General health

• If your doctor prescribed medicines for your baby, give them as directed. Call your doctor if you think your child is having a problem with a medicine.
• Give iron, vitamins, and other supplements your doctor recommends.
• If your baby gets home oxygen, follow instructions for its use.
• Never give your baby honey in the first year of life. Honey can make your baby sick.
• Wash your hands often and always before holding your baby. Keep your baby away from crowds and sick people. Be sure all visitors are up to date with their vaccinations.
• Keep babies younger than 6 months out of the sun. If you cannot avoid the sun, use hats and clothing to protect your child's skin.
• Do not smoke or expose your baby to smoke. Smoking increases the chance of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), ear infections, asthma, colds, and pneumonia. If you need help quitting, talk to your doctor about stop-smoking programs and medicines. These can increase your chances of quitting for good.
• Immunize your baby against childhood diseases. Premature babies should get these shots on the same schedule as full-term babies.

Feeding

• Your baby may come home with a feeding schedule. This will tell you how often to nurse or bottle-feed. Do not go longer than 4 hours between feedings.
• Small feedings may help reduce spitting up. Talk to your doctor if your baby spits up a lot during or after feedings.
• If your baby has a feeding tube, follow instructions for its use.

Sleeping

• Put your baby to sleep on their back, not on the side or tummy. This reduces the risk of SIDS. Use a firm, flat mattress. Do not put pillows in the crib. Do not use sleep positioners, head shaping-pillows, or crib bumpers.
• Most premature babies sleep more than full-term infants. But they don't sleep for very long each time. You may wake up with your baby a lot until 6 months after your due date. And premature babies do not stay awake very long until about 2 months after your due date. It may seem like a long time before your baby responds to you the way you might expect.
• Too much light, touch, sound, or movement may upset your baby. Make the baby's room calm and restful.
• Ask your doctor if it is okay to swaddle your baby in a blanket. If you swaddle your baby, keep the blanket loose around the hips and legs. If the legs are wrapped tightly or straight, hip problems may develop. Hold your baby as much as possible.

Diaper changing and bowel habits

• You can tell if your newborn gets enough breast milk or formula by the number of wet and soiled diapers in a day.
• For the first few days, your baby may have about 3 wet diapers a day. After that, expect 6 or more wet diapers a day throughout the first month of life.
• Many newborns have at least 1 or 2 bowel movements a day. By the end of the first week, your baby may have as many as 5 to 10 a day. But as your baby eats more and matures during the first month, the number of bowel movements may decrease. By 6 weeks of age, your baby may not have a bowel movement every day. This usually is not a problem, as long as your baby seems comfortable and is growing as expected, and as long as the stools aren't hard.