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Prematurity is the term used to describe infants

who are born any time before the 37th week of
pregnancy. A premature infant is the one that has not
yet reached the level of fetal development that
generally allows life outside the womb of a mother.
Several organ systems mature between 34th and 37th
weeks, and the fetus reaches adequate maturity by
the end of this period. One of the main organs greatly
affected by prematurity is the lungs. The lungs is one
of the last organ to develop in the womb, because of
this, premature babies typically spend the first days or
weeks of their life on a ventilator or incubator.
Premature babies may commonly be referred
throughout their life as being born a ³preemie´ or
³premmie baby´.

Preterm or premature babies have an

increased risk of death in the first year of life (infant
mortality), with most of that occurring in the first
month (neonatal mortality). Worldwide, prematurity
accounts for 10% of neonatal mortality, or around
500,000 deaths per year. Prematurely born infants
are also at greater risk for having subsequent serious
chronic health problems.
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 No known cause, but commonly associated in
preterm birth.

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 Very thin, pink/red or dark skin with very little
fat.
 Veins are clearly visible
 Small in size and weight
 Have little hair
 Relatively large head
 Small scrotum for boys or both testicles
undescended
 Not fully developed labia for girls

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  Neurological:
 Apnea of prematurity
 Hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy
 Retinopathy of prematurity
 Developmental disability
 Cerebral palsy
 Intraventricular haemorrhage

  Cardiovascular:
 Patent ductusarteriosus

  Respiratory:
 Respiratory distress syndrome (RDS)
 Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (chronic
lung disease)

  Gastrointestinal/metabolic:
 Hypoglycaemia
 Feeding difficulties
 Rickets of prematurity
 Hypocalcemia
 Inguinal hernia
 Necrotizing enterocolitis

  Hematologic:
 Anemia of prematurity
 Thrombocytopenia
 Hyperbilirubinemia (jaundice)
 Kernicterus
   Infection:
 Sepsis
 Pneumonia
 UTI



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 Incubation
 I.V. feeding or tube feeding
 Oxygenation/ventilator
 Phototherapy (bili light)
 Corticosteroids
 Antibiotics
 Iron supplements
 
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