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It is important to recognize that preterm deliveries, even if late preterm, should never be done for the convenience of the mother or obstetrician. Research has shown that late preterm babies have significantly greater risk for negative outcomes, and all efforts should be made to have babies reach full term. See Let Baby Set the Delivery Date: Wait until 39 Weeks if You Can. Characteristics of Babies Born PrematureWhile the average full-term baby weighs about 7 pounds (3.17 kg) at birth, a premature newborn might weigh 5 pounds (2.26 kg) or even considerably less. But thanks to medical advances, children born after twenty-eight weeks of pregnancy, and weighing more than 2 pounds 3 ounces (1 kg), have almost a full chance of survival; eight out of ten of those born after the thirtieth week have minimal long-term health or developmental problems, while those preterm babies born before twenty-eight weeks have more complications, and require intensive treatment and support in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). How Your Premature Baby Looks
How Your Premature Baby Acts
Additional Information:
Last Updated10/31/2019SourceAdapted from Caring for Your Baby and Young Child: Birth to Age 5, 6th Edition (Copyright © 2015 American Academy of Pediatrics) The information contained on this Web site should not be used as a substitute for the medical care and advice of your pediatrician. There may be variations in treatment that your pediatrician may recommend based on individual facts and circumstances. When does the germinal period occur?The germinal period (about 14 days in length) lasts from conception to implantation of the zygote (fertilized egg) in the lining of the uterus. During the first week after conception, the zygote divides and multiplies, going from a one-cell structure to two cells, then four cells, then eight cells, and so on.
What percentage of zygote grow and survive to become living newborn babies?After simple adjustments for varying methods, existing data show that at least 73% of natural single conceptions have no real chance of surviving 6 weeks of gestation. Of the remainder, about 90% will survive to term.
What does the result of a recent Norwegian study about preterm infants indicate?A recent study from Norway on the adult-age outcomes of preterm infants reported that even mild prematurity was associated with significantly elevated risk for long-term adverse medical, behavioral, psychological, and vocational outcomes (Moster et al, 2008).
Which of the following is a reflex that is critical for survival?The sucking reflex, like rooting, is an automatic survival action. Rooting actually helps the baby become ready to suck.
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