A Mom’s Guide to “Premies”

Premies or preemies are the term used for babies that are born before 37 weeks of gestation. There are a number of reasons why babies may be born prematurely. Hypertension, heart or kidney problems, diabetes, an infection in the vaginal or urinary tracts, or stress are just a few of a host of reasons that lead to the statistic that approximately one out of every 10 babies will be born before their mothers can carry them to term.

If your baby has been born before 37 weeks or if you are just doing research on all possibilities of how your birth and delivery might go (good for you!) then it is important for you to know and understand what it is like to have and care for a premie. 

• What to expect

By now you might have seen many a newborn photo as you have done your research, and you can expect your preemie to look a little different: a larger head and a smaller body due to the fact that they have less body fat.  You might be able to see their blood vessels and they may have soft hair all over their bodies.

Depending on how soon they were born, your baby may need to be placed in an incubator in the NICU. The incubator will help keep them warm (they have difficulty controlling their body temperature) and keep them in a sterile environment (premies can easily catch illnesses). If your baby is in the NICU, expect to have strict protocols for seeing your baby because s/he will be among other babies that need special care. 

Your baby may also need help breathing to make sure their organs are getting enough oxygen. This is because their lungs can still be underdeveloped, which will be the reason why when they cry, it will only be very softly. Doctors will monitor your baby’s breathing and feeding.

• What you can do

Though it can be difficult to see your newborn baby in an incubator, the best thing to do as a parent is to stay strong for your baby. Touch your baby as much as you can. Your touch will be powerful and healing and give your baby strength. As soon as allowed, hold your baby in your arms and skin to skin. Try to feed your baby (following doctor’s instructions on feeding) and work on establishing your milk supply so that your baby has breastmilk to drink. It will be the best food for them in this trying time.

Stay patient as you wait for your baby to get stronger. Eventually you will be able to bring your baby home once they are able to regulate their own body temperature, feed from the nipple or the bottle, and steadily gains weight.

• What the long term looks like

If your baby is born before 28 weeks of gestation they may face many complications, even in childhood. After 30 weeks of gestation, the chances are high that your baby will have a completely normal and healthy life. Whatever the case, be ready to frequently consult your pediatrician for the first two or three years of your baby’s infancy and childhood.

Once you’ve brought your baby home be prepared to get even less sleep than you anticipated. Where some babies may sleep through the night as early as five or six months, premies may begin sleeping through at eight or nine months of age. As a rule of thumb, adjust their milestones to their “intended age” or the age they would be had they been born at 40 weeks. 

Finally, ask for support from your loved ones. Having a preemie can be worrisome and scary and emotional support will be important for you and your family.

Remember that most premies catch up to their full-term counterparts by the age of two or two-and-a-half. Before you know it, the first two years of adjustment will be over and your baby will be the normal and happy little child you dreamed of when you first started your pregnancy journey!