7 Amazing Facts about Preterm Birth Babies

When a baby is born three weeks before the due date then it is said to have a premature birth baby. On average the pregnancy lasts for about 40 weeks, however, preterm birth occurs on the 37th week of pregnancy or even earlier. In the case of preterm birth, the baby usually gets less time to develop in the womb. The organs of the baby don’t get fully developed and there is a high risk of health problems in preterm baby complications in them. Some babies can’t wait to come out and end up arriving well before their due dates. It is though a scary thought for the parents but the rough start doesn’t necessarily mean bad news. Around eight percent of all babies in Australia are found to be born prematurely. Most of these miracle babies are found to be healthy and wonderful. Have a look at the top 7 amazing facts about preterm babies.

1. The age gets Adjusted – When your baby comes out of your womb a bit early then medical staff amends their age for evaluation purposes. This is done by considering the chronological age and then subtracting the difference between the birth date and the due date.
2. Premature Babies are measured in grams – Due to their teeny tiny size, the preterm babies are weighed in grams and not pounds or kilograms.
3. Development matches up – Studies have shown that premature babies reach their motor skill milestones at the same time as full-term babies. Without having to amend their age, their cognitive milestone gets equal to the full-term baby’s development skills.
4. Skin-to-skin Contact with Parents is Helpful – Since our technologies have been updated and in previous years parents had to wait until their baby gets enough strong and gets out of the incubator before giving them cuddles. A recent study in Melbourne says that it has been proven that skin-to-skin contact (also known as Kangaroo care) is very much safe for premature babies. Babies who receive this touch and bonding grow faster and face fewer infections.

1. Size catches up – If you are worried for your child regarding his small size, then don’t be. The premature babies catch up in sizes within the first year of their life. There are rare chances when they lack in catching up the size due to genetic disorder or other factors.
2. Twins are Mostly Born Premature – If you have twin or multiple babies, then they must have arrived earlier. There are around 63% chances of getting such cases in fact. In a lot of cases, doctors actually prefer to deliver the babies preterm to minimize health risks for the mother and her children.
3. The good signs – If you have tube feeding your baby, and after that, they start taking the milk on their own then it is a great sign that they are getting stronger. Also when they move out of the incubator is also a sign that their strength is increasing and they can regulate their own body temperature now. This is a good sign as they are one step closer to go their home.

There are lots of famous people who were born prematurely and went on to do great things. Sir Isaac Newton, Albert Einstein, Stevie Wonder, and Charles Darwin are such examples of great personalities. Many celebrities have also given birth to preterm babies who are now living a healthy life. Anna Faris and Chris Pratt’s son Jack, Kim Kardashian’s daughter North, and Julia Roberts’ twins Phinneaus and Hazel all are born prematurely but are now healthy enough.

Amazing Facts of Premature Babies

Preterm babies are twice as likely to be left-handed than right-handed. Inheritance and genetic theory offered by research scientists and medical doctors have failed to provide a satisfactory explanation. And this interesting occurrence among preterm babies is under investigation.

• Napoleon Bonaparte, Isaac Newton, Victor Hugo, Mark Twain, Sir Winston Churchill, and Albert Einstein are the most famous preterm babies.
• The smallest preterm baby to survive was born at 21 weeks + 6 days of pregnancy. He weighed about 9.1 oz or 258 grams.
• Mothers of preterm babies produce breast milk that is rich in extra fat, protein, and minerals to nourish the preterm baby. The milk additionally contains antibodies and leukocytes that protect the preterm baby from infection.

Due to recent advances in medical science 90% of the preterm babies weighing 800 gms survive. And babies weighing around 500 gms show a 50% chance of survival. However, there are greater chances for their full development.