What if baby born at 34 weeks

Between 31 and 32 weeks, babies gain a lot of body fat. Premature babies born at this age are starting to look plump and may be able to maintain good body temperature without the help of an incubator. They use all five senses to learn about their environments but still may get overstimulated by bright lights and loud noises.

Overstimulation by their environment may be expressed through a hiccup, sneeze, or cry. That being said, at this age, your baby will likely enjoy seeing your face up close. Parents usually want to know when their babies can come home from the NICU.

Even though at this age, your baby looks like a tinier version of a full-term baby, your baby still needs special care, especially as their immune health continues to mature, and they develop their suck for feeding. While your baby will be awake more, their sleep needs to be protected, so they can continue to thrive and grow.

Before discharge, there are several milestones that premature babies must reach : They need to be able to eat, breathe, and stay warm without any help from NICU staff or equipment. Preemies born at 31 and 32 weeks may be able to do one or two of these things at birth, but it will take time to reach all three milestones.

Premature babies born between 33 and 34 weeks are called also called "moderately preterm babies. Although they are getting bigger, 33 and 34 weekers are still immature and may need to stay in the NICU for several weeks. Premature babies are almost fully developed by 33 and 34 weeks. Their bones are fully formed, their fingernails come to the ends of their fingertips, and in boys, the testicles are descending into the scrotum.

However, the respiratory system doesn't finish developing until the last weeks of pregnancy, and antibodies are only starting to pass from mom to baby—so their immune health is still a bit compromised. At 33 and 34 weeks, most premature babies will have fairly short NICU stays with only a few complications. They may need help breathing for a short time, but learning to eat may take the longest.

The suck-swallow-breathe reflex is not well-coordinated, and these babies may not be strong enough to take in enough nourishment to grow and gain weight. During this time, it's also important to watch out for signs of overstimulation from the environment like hiccuping, sneezing, crying, or arching away.

Protecting your baby's time for sleep is very important during this time. Premature babies born at 35 to 36 weeks are called " late preterm infants. By the last weeks of pregnancy, most babies have turned to a head-down position. They have reached their full height, are gaining weight rapidly, have fingernails that come to the tips of their fingers, and have fully formed footprints. Their lungs won't be completely developed for another couple of weeks, and they may not have enough fat to stay warm or enough strength to breast or bottle-feed effectively.

Continuing to protect their sleep and time in the NICU until they are ready to go home is important. Get it free when you sign up for our newsletter. Sengupta A. Mortality and Acute Complications in Preterm Infants. Preterm Birth: Causes, Consequences, and Prevention. Because their organs aren't fully ready to work on their own, preemies are at risk for health problems.

In general, the earlier a baby was born, the greater their chances of health problems. Preemies often need special care after leaving the NICU, sometimes in a high-risk newborn clinic or early intervention program. Depending on their health, they may need care from specialists, such as doctors who treat problems with the brain and nervous system neurologists , eyes ophthalmologists , and lungs pulmonologists.

Preemies must go to all doctor visits including well-child checkups , get the vaccines that all babies need to stay healthy, and have routine hearing and eye exams. As your little one grows, doctors will check your baby's:. Take care of yourself by eating well, resting when you can, and getting exercise.

Spend one-on-one time with your other children when you can, and get help from others. Look for support from friends, family, and support groups. You also can get support online from groups such as:. Reviewed by: Lynn M. Being tired is a common complaint of late pregnancy. Difficulty sleeping , aches and pains, weight gain, and anxiety about labor, delivery, and taking care of a newborn may contribute to your exhaustion. Rest as much as you can and take naps if possible.

Researchers and obstetricians have studied for years if women can do anything to prevent preterm labor. Because of this, no one intervention or treatment can prevent all preterm births. Recent studies have shown that treatment with a hormone named progesterone can lower the rate of preterm birth by as much as 30—50 percent. Progesterone is a steroid hormone. Pregnant women naturally produce this hormone on their own.

Some obstetricians prescribe corticosteroids to speed up lung development and prevent other complications in growing fetuses that are at risk of being born early. When and how a fetus gets these corticosteroids in the womb is something that doctors determine on a case-by-case basis.

Early evaluation and consultation in our clinic will help you start this process. Getting medical care early on in your pregnancy will reduce your chances of having a preterm birth.

Any woman who is pregnant should have an appointment during the first 12 weeks of her pregnancy, regardless of her chances of having a preterm birth. Your first visit in the Utah Preterm Birth Prevention Clinic should take place between 10 and 18 weeks gestation. This helps doctors estimate your due date and give you a physical exam to identify risk factors, including any risks that are caused by earlier preterm deliveries.

Coming to our clinic when you are 10 to 18 weeks pregnant also lets us detect any inflammation or infection.