PREMATURE

Kelompok 8

Definition
A premature birth is a birth
that takes place more than
three weeks before the baby is
due or before the start of the
37th week of pregnancy.

Premature babies, especially those born earliest, often

have complicated medical problems.
Depending on how early a baby is born, he or she
may be:
Late preterm, born between 34 and 36 weeks of
pregnancy
Moderately preterm, born between 32 and 34
weeks of pregnancy
Very preterm, born at less than 32 weeks of
pregnancy
Extremely preterm, born at or before 25 weeks of
pregnancy

Symptoms
The signs that a baby's gestation has been cut short
include:
Small size, with a disproportionately large head
Sharper looking, less rounded features than a full-term

baby's features, due to a lack of fat stores

Fine hair (lanugo) covering much of the body
Low body temperature, especially immediately after
birth in the delivery room, due to a lack of stored body
fat
Labored breathing or respiratory distress
Lack of reflexes for sucking and swallowing, leading to
feeding difficulties

Risk factors
Often, the specific cause of premature birth isn't clear. Many factors
may increase the risk of premature birth, however, including:
Having

a previous premature birth

Pregnancy with twins, triplets or other multiples
An interval of less than six months between pregnancies
Conceiving through in vitro fertilization
Problems with the uterus, cervix or placenta
Smoking cigarettes or using illicit drugs
Poor nutrition
Not gaining enough weight during pregnancy
Some infections, particularly of the amniotic fluid and lower genital tract
Some chronic conditions, such as high blood pressure
Being underweight or overweight before pregnancy
Stressful life events, such as the death of a loved one or domestic
violence
Multiple miscarriages or abortions
Physical injury or trauma

Complications

While not all premature babies

experience complications, being born too
early can cause short-term and long-term
health problems for preemies. Generally,
the earlier a baby is born, the higher the
risk of complications. Birth weight plays an
important role, too.
Some problems may be apparent at
birth, while others may not develop until
later.

Short-term complications
In the first weeks, the complications of
premature birth may include:
Breathing problems
Heart problems
Brain problems
Temperature control problems
Gastrointestinal problems
Blood problems
Metabolism problems
Immune system problems

Long-term complications
In the long term, premature birth may
lead to these complications:
Cerebral palsy
Impaired cognitive skills
Vision problems
Hearing problems
Dental problems
Behavioral and psychological problems
Chronic health issues

Treatments and drugs

At the hospital, the neonatal intensive
care unit (NICU) provides round-the-clock
care for your premature baby.
Supportive care
Specialized supportive care for your baby
may include:
Being placed in an incubator
Monitoring of your baby's vital signs
Having a feeding tube
Replenishing fluids
Spending time under bilirubin lights
Receiving a blood transfusion

Lifestyle and home remedies

When it's time to bring your baby home,
you might feel relieved, excited and
anxious. Take time to consider ways to
prepare for life at home with your baby
after you've left the hospital:
Understand how to care for your baby
Discuss feedings
Protect your baby's health
Follow a recommended schedule for

checkups
Stay on top of vaccinations
Monitor for developmental delays

Prevention
Although the exact cause of preterm birth is often
unknown, there are some things that can be done to
help women especially those who have an increased
risk to reduce their risk of preterm birth, including:
Progesterone supplements
Cervical cerclage

Although not as well-studied as progesterone

supplements and cerclage, there's also some evidence
that the following things may help reduce the risk of
premature birth:
Eat a healthy diet even before you get pregnant
Calcium supplements
Daily low-dose aspirin
Cervical pessary
Reduce chemical exposure