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Newborn and infant diseases
Premature baby

Premature baby

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A premature baby is a baby born before term, meaning the baby is born before finishing 38 weeks of pregnancy. The earlier a baby is born, the more problems a baby will have in trying to adapt to the environment outside the mother's uterus. Problems include: small size, lung problems, heart problems, bleeding in the brain, hearing loss, vision loss, etc...

Dr. Robert Kwok reviewed this

35 year experience in Pediatrics

Is a type of:

Newborn and infant diseases

How long it usually lasts:

Chronic (lasts years to lifelong)

How common it is:

Common

Risk factors

Personal

Multiple births

Related questions

A 48-year old asked:

Are premature babies who suffered retinopathy of prematurity have any chance of seeing?

1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in

A 45-year old asked:

Who else has retinopathy of prematurity besides tiny babies?

1 doctor answer • 5 doctors weighed in

A 38-year old asked:

How common now is retinopathy of prematurity (rop) in babies?

1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in

A 30-year old female asked:

Was given surfactant as an infant due to extreme prematurity, now recent lung CT shows inflammation, minimal bilateral scar and unspecific aveolar density. I also had COVID recently. Could this be due to the surfactant or Covid and can it be reversed?

2 doctor answers • 3 doctors weighed in

A 41-year old asked:

Does nec only happen to premature babies?

4 doctor answers • 10 doctors weighed in

A 30-year old asked:

Why does ivh mainly happen in premature babies?

3 doctor answers • 9 doctors weighed in

A 16-year old male asked:

Do premature babies grow up to be short adults?

2 doctor answers • 4 doctors weighed in

A 40-year old asked:

Can PDA in premature babies effect them in adult hood, even though it was treated?

3 doctor answers • 11 doctors weighed in

A 50-year old asked:

What do you recommend if I had 2 premature babies , what's the chances of having the 3rd premature?

1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in

A 43-year old asked:

What is the survival rate of premature babies?

2 doctor answers • 2 doctors weighed in

A 30-year old female asked:

Are premature babies born with kidneys?

2 doctor answers • 8 doctors weighed in

A 21-year old asked:

How can we treat retinopathy in premature babies?

2 doctor answers • 6 doctors weighed in

A 48-year old female asked:

What is the effective cure for colds in premature babies?

2 doctor answers • 4 doctors weighed in

A 46-year old asked:

What are optimal ventilator settings for premature babies?

2 doctor answers • 4 doctors weighed in

A 47-year old asked:

What are the immediate and long-term effects of premature babies?

1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in

A 41-year old asked:

Can some of the premature babies be affected by drugs given their moms?

1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in

A 23-year old asked:

What are the therapeutic options to aid the development of premature babies?

3 doctor answers • 5 doctors weighed in

A 40-year old asked:

Can you tell me some names of some fatal diseases that premature babies can get?

1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in

A 32-year old asked:

Could premature babies have narrow faces when they get older like in their teens and twenties?

1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in

A 41-year old asked:

What is being done to prevetn premature babies from being born early?

1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in

A 40-year old asked:

What is the detergent-like substance that keeps the alveoli from collapsing in premature babies?

1 doctor answer • 3 doctors weighed in

A 44-year old asked:

In premature babies, sometimes the alveoli collapse. Is that rds?

1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in

A 30-year old asked:

What happens during eye surgery in premature babies?

1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in

A 45-year old asked:

Doctors are worried about me having a premature baby -- I know a lot of moms who have babies early and their kids are fine?

1 doctor answer • 3 doctors weighed in

A 18-year old male asked:

I read online that a study was done and that only 22% of extreme premature babies were found to be alive between 18-45. I was born at 28 weeks with Tourettes and ADHD. Does this mean I only have a 22% survival rate?

2 doctor answers • 3 doctors weighed in

A 18-year old male asked:

Ive read online that premature babies have a 30-50% higher all cause mortality rate compared to those born full term. I was born at 28 weeks and I have ADHD and Tourettes. Does this mean Ive a higher chance to get chronic illnesses?

2 doctor answers • 2 doctors weighed in

A 41-year old asked:

Do you normally get transposition of the great vessels in premature babies?

3 doctor answers • 11 doctors weighed in

A 30-year old asked:

Does respiratory distress syndrome only occur in premature babies or can it happen in older children too?

3 doctor answers • 11 doctors weighed in

A 25-year old female asked:

Do premature babies get Brain MRI's done to make sure no AVM or anything wrong? i was born in 89 and born in Toronto Canada.

3 doctor answers • 4 doctors weighed in

A 42-year old asked:

How can I help my baby if he has retinopathy of prematurity?

1 doctor answer • 4 doctors weighed in

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