WHAT IS PRETERM BIRTH?
Preterm birth refers to babies born before 37 weeks of gestation. It is a major cause of infant illness. One of the most acute problems is called “respiratory distress syndrome” or RDS. When babies get RDS they have difficulty breathing and often require oxygen and the use of a machine to help them breathe. Another problem preterm babies may have is “intraventricular haemorrhage” or IVH, which refers to bleeding inside the babys brain. RDS and IVH are two conditions that often lead to long- term problems.
