Premature babies: when is a baby premature?
Premature babies are relatively common, including in the Netherlands. When we look at all babies born in the Netherlands, we see that approximately 7 percent are premature. This means that many parents have to deal with premature babies every year. What exactly does that mean, and what should you keep in mind? Snoozzz.com I would be happy to tell you more about this.
What does premature mean?
Relatively many premature babies are born, but what exactly does premature mean? Premature indicates a premature birth. A regular pregnancy lasts 38 weeks. This is the total duration from the fertilization of the egg to a full-term child. In the best-case scenario, it therefore takes 38 weeks before you give birth to your baby. However, there are relatively many babies who are born too early. Being a few days early is not a problem, but it also happens that babies are born weeks early. A baby is considered premature, and thus premature, when the baby is born more than a week early.
When is a baby premature?
When a baby is born before 37 weeks of gestation are reached, it is considered a premature baby. If the baby is born after 37 weeks, it is therefore not considered a preterm birth or a premature baby, even if the full 38 weeks have not yet been reached. Premature babies are thus babies born before 37 weeks of gestation. All babies born before this week are called premature.
How many premature babies are born?
When looking at the number of premature babies born, we can rely on statistics provided by Statistics Netherlands (CBS). For example, if we look at the year 2018, we see that 11,530 babies were born prematurely that year. This is slightly more than 7 percent of the total number of babies born that year. This includes both live-born and stillborn babies born after 22 weeks. In total, 755 babies were born extremely prematurely. These babies were born before reaching 26 weeks of gestation.
Buy a baby nest
A baby nest is wonderful for your baby to relax comfortably. Do you want to buy a nice baby nest for your baby? You can find the nicest models online at Snoozzz.com.
View the baby nest here
Other important statistics about premature babies
Let us also look beyond our borders at the global statistics known regarding premature babies. An estimated 15 million babies are born prematurely worldwide every year. Complications of preterm birth are the leading cause of death among children under the age of 5, accounting for approximately 1 million deaths in 2015. Three-quarters of these deaths could be prevented with current, cost-effective interventions. In all countries, the percentage of preterm births varies from 5 to 18 percent of babies born. With an average of 7 percent premature babies in the Netherlands per year, the Netherlands is among the countries where premature babies occur least frequently. The highest incidence of preterm births occurs in Africa and South Asia.
Premature babies – various stages
Premature is a term used for all babies born too early. However, there is, of course, an important difference between babies born two weeks early and babies born, for example, 10 weeks early. Premature therefore exists in multiple stages. Is the baby born between 32 and 37 weeks? Then it is referred to as “moderately to late premature”.Babies born between 28 and 32 weeks are “very premature,” and babies born even earlier than that are “extremely premature.”
What causes premature birth?
Premature birth has various causes. In many cases, premature birth occurs 'spontaneously,' meaning there is no immediately identifiable medical reason. In other cases, premature birth is caused by identifiable medical reasons, such as infections and chronic conditions, including high blood pressure and diabetes. Additionally, premature birth is more common in multiple births and can have a hereditary cause. In certain situations, premature birth must be induced due to pregnancy complications. In that case, an early induction of labor or a Cesarean section is chosen.
When can a premature baby go home?
It is difficult to say exactly when your premature baby can go home. This depends on various factors. First and foremost, the extent to which your baby was born prematurely is, of course, a determining factor. A premature baby born after 36 weeks can naturally go home sooner than a premature baby born after 30 weeks of gestation. Additionally, it depends heavily on your child's health. Many premature babies have difficulty breathing, requiring them to remain in the hospital. Furthermore, there are other health problems that are common among premature babies and necessitate a longer hospital stay.
Babies born between 28 and 32 weeks
Babies born between 28 and 32 weeks are very premature and often require a long hospital stay. The survival rate for babies born after 28 weeks of gestation is 94 percent, but the risk of complications is higher and they require intensive treatment. Babies born after week 30 usually have few or no long-term health or developmental problems. Babies born between 28 and 32 weeks are often allowed to go home a few weeks before or around their due date. This depends on the presence of serious complications.
Babies born between 32 and 36 weeks
Premature babies born later, approximately between 32 and 36 weeks, have an almost complete chance of survival. They have spent enough time in the womb to develop properly. However, it is possible that these babies experience some difficulty breathing in the initial period, requiring them to remain in the hospital. Some babies born between 32 and 36 weeks are allowed to go home almost immediately. Naturally, in all cases, your child must remain in the hospital as long as their health is not yet fully restored.
Conditions for the premature baby going home
There are a number of conditions that must be met before a premature baby is allowed to go home. These include the following conditions:
- The baby must be able to breathe independently.
- There is a stable body temperature
- The baby can be fed by bottle or at the breast.
- A minimum weight must have been reached – the baby must be gaining weight steadily.
- The baby must also breathe properly while sleeping.
- There must be no other complications.
Taking your premature baby home
It is, of course, a joyous day when your premature baby is finally allowed to come home. It is nice to be home with the whole family.You can a baby nest buy for your little one, so that he or she feels optimally safe and warm. Baby nests offer your child a level of comfort they recognize from the womb, making them feel very comfortable in them. Are you afraid that your baby will toss and turn in their sleep? Then you can prevent this with the sleep wrap, with which your baby stays lying on their back well and comfortably. Would you like more tips from us? Then feel free to contact us without obligation. contact join us.
Read more
You want to let your baby fall asleep on their own, but every time you put the baby in the bassinet or crib, they start crying. Many parents experience this and don't really know how to solve it. I...
Do you want to make a maternity basket yourself? Then you can be sure that you are giving a truly unique gift with nice little things for the baby and/or the new mother. You can make a maternity ba...