Premature birth is when a baby is born at thirty-seven weeks or sooner. The earlier a baby is born, the more likely he or she is to have serious health problems, which could lead to short or even long term effects.
Stages of Premature Birth
There are typically four stages of premature birth that can determine the severity of the effects. Near-term birth is the latest a baby can be born and still be considered premature. This occurs within 34-37 weeks. At this point, the lungs are basically fully developed, so the baby is not likely to have severe breathing problems. He or she is still vulnerable to infections, and could have problems with blood sugar levels and blood pressure.
The next stage is moderate premature birth. This is when a baby is born between 32 and 33 …show more content…
This is considered extreme premature birth. He or she will need to have assistance breathing, and is still at risk of hypothermia, low blood pressure, and infections. He or she will be given extra nutrition to help with growth and development. There is also a risk of brain injury in babies born at this time, so they will be monitored.
Short-Term Effects
Having a premature birth can cause both short and long term effects on the baby. Some short term effects include problems with breathing, the heart, the brain, temperature control, and blood.
When a baby is born too early, the lungs are not yet fully developed. If the baby is not getting enough surfactant, which is a substance that allows the lungs to expand, he or she may get respiratory distress syndrome. This just makes it very difficult for the baby to breath.
One of the most common heart problems seen in premature babies is Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA). PDA is a persistent opening between two major blood vessels from the heart, and causes too much blood to flow through the heart and could possibly cause heart failure. In most cases, this problem fixes
Stages of Premature Birth
There are typically four stages of premature birth that can determine the severity of the effects. Near-term birth is the latest a baby can be born and still be considered premature. This occurs within 34-37 weeks. At this point, the lungs are basically fully developed, so the baby is not likely to have severe breathing problems. He or she is still vulnerable to infections, and could have problems with blood sugar levels and blood pressure.
The next stage is moderate premature birth. This is when a baby is born between 32 and 33 …show more content…
This is considered extreme premature birth. He or she will need to have assistance breathing, and is still at risk of hypothermia, low blood pressure, and infections. He or she will be given extra nutrition to help with growth and development. There is also a risk of brain injury in babies born at this time, so they will be monitored.
Short-Term Effects
Having a premature birth can cause both short and long term effects on the baby. Some short term effects include problems with breathing, the heart, the brain, temperature control, and blood.
When a baby is born too early, the lungs are not yet fully developed. If the baby is not getting enough surfactant, which is a substance that allows the lungs to expand, he or she may get respiratory distress syndrome. This just makes it very difficult for the baby to breath.
One of the most common heart problems seen in premature babies is Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA). PDA is a persistent opening between two major blood vessels from the heart, and causes too much blood to flow through the heart and could possibly cause heart failure. In most cases, this problem fixes