Preterm (premature) birth is the birth of a baby before 37 completed weeks of pregnancy. The earlier a baby is born, the more likely they are to need extra care, such as help with breathing, feeding and keeping warm.
Key takeaways
- Development is followed using corrected age, usually until around age 2.
- Vaccines are usually given by actual age.
- Many preterm babies need extra checks of hearing, vision and development.
How is prematurity grouped?
Preterm babies are often described by how early they were born:
| Born at | Description |
|---|---|
| Before 28 weeks | Extremely preterm |
| 28 to 31 weeks | Very preterm |
| 32 to 36 weeks | Moderate to late preterm |
What you can do
- Ask your care team about kangaroo care and breastfeeding or expressing milk.
- Keep follow-up appointments for growth and development checks.
