Giving birth to a child crosses all boundaries of joys for any woman on the planet, a feeling which cannot be compared to anything in the world. From the time the baby is conceived till the time it reaches the mother’s arms, there are a lot of factors and health complications which need to be taken into account. A common pregnancy issue is when an expectant woman gives birth to a premature baby.

Normally, most babies are born between 37-40 weeks after their mother’s last menstrual period. An infant which is born before the 37^th week of pregnancy is known as a premature baby or a preemie. They weigh less as compared to full-term babies. Around 10-12% of pregnancies in United States result in premature births. Babies born between 35 to 36 weeks are known as late preterm infants. These new-borns weigh about 5-6 pounds and although they might appear healthy like full term babies, they are still premature. After birth, they are kept in a specially designed Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)as a precautionary measure till they are deemed fit by the doctors to be taken home. This unit takes care of important needs like warmth, nutrition and protection required by the babies and ensures their growth and development

Babies born before their due date may suffer from the following health issues as their organs are not developed fully:

1. Breathing Problems: Vital organs like the lungs are not fully developed in premature babies. This makes breathing difficult and leads to respiratory problems like Respiratory Distress Syndrome. Lack of surfactant in premature infants, a liquid substance present in lungs which makes breathing easy forces the babies to breathe harder thereby, causing them a lot of discomfort. At times, ventilators are required which breathe for them. Such complications generally improve within some days.

2. Hyperbilirubinemia: Affecting 80% of early born infants, babies suffering from this condition have high levels of bilirubin, a compound which is a result of natural breakdown of blood. High amounts of bilirubin can lead to jaundice resulting in skin and eyes turning yellowish. It can also cause brain damage in case of extremely high levels. To avoid this, babies are placed under special blue lights that aid the body to get rid of bilirubin.

3. Maintaining Body Temperature: Late preterm babies find it difficult to sustain their body temperature due to lack of body fat. To keep the temperature within normal range, they are placed in radiant warmers or incubators in the NICU. Such devices keep the babies warm and reduce the chances of infection.

4. Feeding Difficulties: Premature babies tend to get tired easily and are unable to consume enough breast milk or formula. As a result, they cannot gain weight easily and also feel dehydrated at times. Infants with mild breathing problems may need to be fed through a tube for some time till their lungs become stable.

5. Risk of Infections: Since the immune systems are not fully developed, premature babies are prone to infections and should be treated with antibiotics.

There are exceptions where a baby born at 36 weeks is healthy with little complications. But parents should be extremely careful and ensure that their baby is on the right path of progress by consulting a paediatrician about the various concerns affecting the baby’s health. Similarly, expectant mothers should also do their bit by obtaining prenatal care throughout the pregnancy and regular visits to the gynaecologist for check-ups.

A few precautionary measures and some efforts is all it takes to experience this wonderful emotion.