alejandra - Thanks for your question. We can't tell you exactly what will happen if your baby does come early, but we can provide you with some general information, courtesy of the March of Dimes. We hope this helps and that all goes well for both you and your baby in the weeks ahead.
Take care, Pat
Question: Are babies born at 34 to 36 weeks gestation (late preterm) at risk for medical problems?
Answer: Late preterm infants are usually healthier than babies born earlier. More than 99 percent of these babies survive, though they are :
* 6 times more likely than full-term infants to die in the first week of life (2.8 per 1,000 vs. 0.5 per 1,000)
* 3 times more likely to die in the first year of life (7.9 per 1,000 vs. 2.4 per 1,000)
Late preterm babies often weigh between 4½ and 6 pounds, and they may appear thinner than full-term babies. These babies remain at higher risk than full-term babies for newborn health problems, including breathing and feeding problems, difficulties regulating body temperature, and jaundice. These problems are usually mild. Most of these babies can breast- or bottle-feed, although some (especially those with mild breathing problems) may need tube-feeding for a brief time.
A baby’s brain at 35 weeks weighs only two-thirds of what it will weigh at 40 weeks. Because their brain development is not complete, these babies may be at increased risk for learning and behavioral problems. Most do not develop serious disabilities resulting from premature birth.
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alejandra - Thanks for your question. We can't tell you exactly what will happen if your baby does come early, but we can provide you with some general information, courtesy of the March of Dimes. We hope this helps and that all goes well for both you and your baby in the weeks ahead.
Take care, Pat
Question: Are babies born at 34 to 36 weeks gestation (late preterm) at risk for medical problems?
Answer: Late preterm infants are usually healthier than babies born earlier. More than 99 percent of these babies survive, though they are :
* 6 times more likely than full-term infants to die in the first week of life (2.8 per 1,000 vs. 0.5 per 1,000)
* 3 times more likely to die in the first year of life (7.9 per 1,000 vs. 2.4 per 1,000)
Late preterm babies often weigh between 4½ and 6 pounds, and they may appear thinner than full-term babies. These babies remain at higher risk than full-term babies for newborn health problems, including breathing and feeding problems, difficulties regulating body temperature, and jaundice. These problems are usually mild. Most of these babies can breast- or bottle-feed, although some (especially those with mild breathing problems) may need tube-feeding for a brief time.
A baby’s brain at 35 weeks weighs only two-thirds of what it will weigh at 40 weeks. Because their brain development is not complete, these babies may be at increased risk for learning and behavioral problems. Most do not develop serious disabilities resulting from premature birth.
August 27, 2010 - 5:34pmThis Comment
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