What is a preemie?

"Preemie" is the common term used when referring to a premature baby. The dictionary definition of a preemie is “a prematurely born infant”. A preemie is born before 37 weeks gestation while a full term baby is born at 37 weeks or after. Preemies require a very different start in life, and this can vary dramatically depending on the level of prematurity.

Recently a term has come up in the medical world and especially in the NICU defining even further what a "preemie" is. The term Micropreemie defines a baby that is born before 27 weeks and weighs less than 800 grams. The survival of a micropreemie range from 10-80%.


Some of the many difficulties that a micropreemie experiences are:

• immature lungs
• an underdeveloped digestive system
• cerebral hemorrhagingor interventricular hemmorage ( IVH)
  
• high risk of infection
• incomplete feeding reflexes,
• neurological delays
• physical handicaps
• long term health issues.

Because of so many problems associated with being a micropreemie, medical intervention to keep micropreemies alive include:

• biliblankets, and/or billy lights
• blood pressure monitors
• cardiac monitors
• intubation tubes
  
• isolettes
• intravenous pumps & tubes

These are only a few of the things that get deal with. During the month I would like to educate and inform others of the ups and downs and the joys and the sorrows along with the true miracles we have in our lives.

Stay tuned for more Prematurity awareness including our service project to benefit those who are dealing with the long term issues of prematurity.