A normal pregnancy lasts between 37 and 42 weeks. When the child is born within this time, it is considered an "at term" birth. But what happens when the child is born before 37 weeks gestation? This is what is known as premature birth or pre-term.

In these cases, the child’s organs and systems - its breathing, temperature control, digestion, metabolism, etc - are immature. This makes it more vulnerable to disease and more sensitive to external agents (light, noise, etc), and often requires special care in the neonatal unit of a hospital. Not all premature babies have the same problems, but below 35 weeks they need additional support to survive outside the mother's uterus, so it has to be cared for in a Neonatal Unit.

In recent years, there has been an increase in the number of premature infants. Currently between 8 and 10% of children are born before completing the full gestation period. Within this group of premature infants, those weighing less than 1.5 kg at birth are considered to be of very low weight. There has also been an increase in the number of these children, which is about 1.5% of all births.1

1. "Very early preterm babies have less long-term survival, are less well-educated, have less reproductive capacity and a higher incidence of prematurity in their own offspring". Swamy GK, et al. Evid Pediatr 2008.

What are the chances of survival for these children?

Today, the survival of premature babies has increased considerably. Comparing the situation with a few years ago, premature babies now have a higher capacity for survival. The challenge today is to ensure that the newborn baby has an optimum quality of life. So from the outset, placing it within the family as much as possible is the fundamental approach adopted.

Causes of prematurity 2

There are some factors associated with a greater likelihood of premature birth.

• Age of the mother (under 20 or over 40 years of age).
• Previous history of premature birth..
• Multiple pregnancies.
• Physical or mental stress.
• Maternal history of alcoholism, drug addiction, smoking.
  
• Serious maternal diseases (of the heart, kidney, thyroid, diabetes, etc).
  
• Maternal malnutrition.
  
• Sickness during pregnancy (hypertension, toxaemia, infection, uterine muscle weakness, malformations of the uterus, placenta problems, such as early detachment of the placenta or placenta praevia).
  
• Foetal malformations.

2. Catalan Institute of Health. http://www.aepap.org/familia/prematuro.htm

The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

Care in the Neonatal Unit is intended to provide the premature baby with the help it needs to perform its essential functions; Therefore, the baby is placed in an incubator or heated cot, which maintains its temperature. It may be connected to a respirator or ventilator, which helps it breathe or it may require feeding via a tube and is basically offered all the care and treatment necessary in order to develop. At the same time, it also invites parents to become the primary caretakers of their children.