What is a Premature Baby?
Premature babies are defined as those born between twenty four and thirty seven weeks of gestation. The chances of survival for a baby born before twenty four weeks of pregnancy are rather lean. Premature babies are even more vulnerable than full–term babies and need to be treated with special care. These tiny, delicate creatures are often born with problems, as many of their faculties are not fully developed. Problems associated with premature babies The common problems associated with premature babies are • Difficulty in feeding because of weakness. • More susceptible to infection. • Congenital defects, including those that affect the heart. • Respiratory distress syndrome. Premature babies have difficulty in gas exchange as a result of protein and fluid collection within the small air sacs and the collapse of the sacs themselves. • Greater likelihood of contracting jaundice and increased vulnerability to its effects. • Danger of bleeding in the brain leading to the development of hy
