If Your Baby May Arrive Early: What to Know About Premature Birth

A baby is considered premature if they are born before 37 weeks of gestation. Some babies are born just a few weeks early. Others may arrive much sooner.

Not every premature baby needs intensive care. The amount of support a baby may need depends on:

•    How far from their due date they are born
•    Their weight at birth
•    Help that is needed to breathe, eat, gain weight and stay warm 
•    Any other health concerns detected during pregnancy or at birth

Some babies may need help with breathing or feeding at first. Some may need life-saving interventions or surgery. Others may simply need time to grow bigger and stronger. At Connecticut Children’s, we’re equipped to walk you through all of these scenarios. 

>>Related: A Twin Pregnancy, a Rare Diagnosis, and the Team That Never Stopped Believing
 

During the last weeks of pregnancy, a baby’s lungs, brain and digestive system are still developing. If a baby is born early, those systems may need extra support outside the womb.

This is where a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) can help. A NICU is a special unit designed to care for newborns who need more medical attention.

NICUs have:

•    Clinical experts specially trained in newborn care
•    Specialized equipment to monitor babies and assist their breathing and temperature control
•    Nutrition support for feeding and growth
•    Access to pediatric specialists 100% dedicated to kids for consultations and, if needed, procedures.

The goal is always the same: to help babies grow stronger, empower families with helpful information and support—and get them ready to thrive at home.

>>Related: Take a closer look inside the NICU.
 

If there is a chance your baby may be born early and needs the most intensive level of support, where you deliver can make a difference.

A hospital with a Level IV NICU offers the highest level of newborn hospital care. This means:

• Advanced specialists are available right at birth
• Babies usually do not need to be transferred elsewhere for higher-level care
• Care teams work closely together from the very first moment

But medical care is only part of the picture.
 

The NICU Environment Matters, Too

When a baby needs intensive care, parents need support as well.

Our newly designed NICU 6 at Connecticut Children’s Medical Center was built with families in mind. It includes:

• Fully private rooms, which create a quiet, calming space
• Rooming-in options, so parents can stay close to their baby
• Space for skin-to-skin care, bedside bonding and pumping
• Room for families to take part in daily care routines

Having privacy and dedicated space can help families feel more comfortable, more involved and more connected during a stressful time.

 

If your doctor has concerns about early delivery, here are a few helpful steps:

• Ask about the NICU care available to your baby
• Talk with your OB/Gyn, midwife or maternal-fetal medicine specialist about what to expect, including the experts you might meet during your high-risk pregnancy
• Ask if a consultation with neonatology is recommended before delivery, 
• Request a tour the NICU if you wish 
• Learn what support services are available for families

You do not have to make decisions alone. Your care team is there to guide you.
 

A Message of Reassurance

Hearing that your baby may come early can feel overwhelming. But you are not alone.

NICU teams care for premature babies every day. They are trained to handle even the smallest and most fragile newborns with skill and compassion.

With specialized care, most babies born early go on to grow, learn and thrive.

If you have questions about premature birth or NICU care, speaking with your care team can help you feel more prepared and more confident about the road ahead.