There are many serious effects associated with preterm birth.

Early effects include:

• Long hospital stay.  Preterm babies often need special care in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).  The earlier a baby is born, the longer the baby may have to stay in the hospital. 
• Risk of death after coming home from the hospital.
• Returning to the hospital because of medical problems.
• Respiratory distress, which is a serious breathing problem.  Preterm babies may need a machine called a ventilator to help them breathe.
• Brain that is not fully grown.  The earlier a baby is born, the more likely the brain is to have bleeding or other problems.
• Jaundice, which is a condition where a baby’s skin and the white parts of the eyes look yellow.  Jaundice in babies can cause brain damage if it’s extreme and not treated.

Later effects include:

• Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).
• Health problems like cerebral palsy, mental retardation, slow growth, and problems seeing and hearing. 
• Breathing problems, such as asthma. 
• Learning problems requiring early intervention or special education services.
• Behavior problems like Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).
• Heart disease, high blood pressure or diabetes as adults. 

For more information on this topic, download:
The Effects of Preterm Birth

 

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