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Babies born before 37 weeks of pregnancy are called preterm or premature. That means they were born too early and may not be fully ready for life outside the womb - because of this, premature babies may have health problems that full-term babies do not have. Some of these problems can happen in the first few days after birth while others may be long term problems.

Because of these health concerns, preterm babies are given extra medical attention and assistance immediately after delivery. Depending on how early the baby has arrived, your pediatrician or obstetrician may call in a neonatologist (a pediatrician who specializes in the care of preterm or other very ill newborn babies) to help determine what, if any, special treatment your baby needs.

Here are some of the most common conditions that occur soon after birth for many preterm infants:

Breathing problems

The lungs of a preterm baby are not fully matured at birth.
While some babies do very well after birth and do not need any extra help with breathing, others can have difficulty right away or a few hours after being born.
The earlier a baby is born, the more likely they are to have difficulty breathing.
These babies may need treatment with oxygen, surfactant, or ventilators (respirator) for support.
Many babies need these treatments for days or even weeks. Sometimes extremely premature babies may need long term oxygen treatment and occasionally go home from the hospital while still on oxygen.

Apnea

Apnea is a temporary pause (more than 15 seconds) in breathing. It can come with a decrease in heart rate and a drop in the oxygen level in the blood.
Most infants outgrow the condition by the time they leave the hospital

Bronchopulmonary dysplasia

This condition is also called chronic lung disease.
Babies with this condition need oxygen for several weeks or months.
They tend to outgrow this uncommon condition, which varies in severity, as their lungs grow and mature

Feeding problems

While some premature babies are able to breast feed or take formula like full-term babies. Others, especially the more premature ones, may need more help taking in enough food to grow and keep their blood sugar level stable.
A premature baby might receive supplemental formula in addition to breastmilk, a higher calorie formula, or may need to have additional calories added to their breastmilk.
While some premature babies will be able to feed by mouth when they are born, some may need to have all or part of their feeds through a feeding tube that usually goes in their nose.
Some babies, especially those that are born very early or have other medical conditions may need to receive nutrition through IV fluids.
Your baby’s team – including the neonatologist, nurses, lactation specialist, dietitian, and feeding specialists - will work to find the best feeding plan for you and your baby.

Jaundice

Jaundice is the yellow color of the skin that affects many babies.
Jaundice is caused by an elevated level of bilirubin in the blood.
Most babies (both term and preterm) have a tendency to have at least a little elevated bilirubin. There are many reasons for this and it is more common in preterm babies.
If the bilirubin level gets to be too high, it can be harmful to the baby’s nervous system. Some babies may need treatment with special lights for several hours to several days.

Anemia of prematurity

Babies usually build of the iron in their body toward the end of the pregnancy.
Because they were born early, premature babies did not get to do this and can have anemia.
Babies with this condition will be sent home from the hospital receiving iron supplementation.

Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP)

This is an eye disease which can affect the most premature babies because the retina is not fully developed.
Some babies may need specialized treatment by a pediatric ophthalmologist

Resources for families of premature infants