Premature birth facts for kids
Premature birth happens when a baby is born too early. A normal pregnancy usually lasts about nine months, or around 266 days. When a baby arrives before 37 full weeks of pregnancy, they are called premature.
In countries like the United States, about 12 out of every 100 babies are born early. This means about one in every eight babies is premature. For example, in 2003, over 490,000 babies were born prematurely in the U.S.
Contents
Understanding Premature Birth
What Does "Premature" Mean?
A baby is considered premature if they are born before 37 completed weeks of pregnancy. Doctors usually count this from the first day of the mother's last menstrual period. Babies born very early might need special medical care.
Premature Birth Around the World
It's harder to know exactly how many babies are born prematurely in all parts of the world. This is especially true in developing countries. Often, there isn't enough medical help to track these births accurately.
Because of this, the World Health Organization (WHO) often looks at how many babies are born with a low birth weight instead. In 2000, about 16.5 percent of babies in developing countries had a low birth weight. It's thought that about one-third of these low birth weight babies are born early.
Images for kids
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A new mother holds her premature baby at Kapiolani Medical Center NICU in Honolulu, Hawaii
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Percentage premature births in England and Wales 2011, by age of mother and whether single or multiple birth.
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Preterm birth at 32 weeks 4 days with a weight of 2,000 g attached to medical equipment
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Incubator for preterm baby
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See also
In Spanish: Parto pretérmino para niños
