Babies born after 32 weeks generally do well. They are usually small and may need to stay in the hospital a little longer than other babies. But in the long run they do as well as babies born on or near their due date.

Babies born before 32 weeks may be very small and are not properly developed.

 

 

 

 

 

Source:
Tucker J, McGuire W.
Epidemiology of preterm birth.
BMJ. 2004; 329: 675-678.

 

 

 

 

 

¹ They may need special care, usually in an incubator. Most babies born this early have lungs that are not fully developed and are not yet ready to breathe air. They need help with breathing, and some babies need a life support machine to breathe for them. There is also a risk that premature babies will have some brain damage.

Babies born before 26 weeks are very underdeveloped. Babies born this early often struggle to survive.

 

 

 

 

 

Source:
Wood NS, Marlow N, Costeloe K, et al.
Neurologic and developmental disability after extremely preterm birth.
New England Journal of Medicine. 2000; 343: 378-384.

 

 

 

 

 

²

Serious health problems become less likely the longer your baby stays in the uterus. So, if it's safe, doctors may try to delay your delivery. This gives your baby more time to grow. It also gives doctors more time to give you treatments. For example, you may be given steroid shots. These can help to speed up the development of your baby's lungs.

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