• Home

Home > Medical Reference > Encyclopedia (English)

Toggle: English / Spanish

Premature infant

• Overview
• Symptoms
• Treatment
• Prevention

Definition:

A premature infant is a baby born before 37 weeks gestation .

Alternative Names:

Preterm infant; Preemie

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

At birth, a baby is classified as one of the following:

• Premature (less than 37 weeks gestation)
• Full term (37 to 42 weeks gestation)
• Post term (born after 42 weeks gestation)

If a woman goes into labor before 37 weeks, it is called pre-term labor. Often, the cause of pre-term labor is unknown. Multiple pregnancy (twins, triplets, etc.) makes up about 15% of all premature births.

The following health conditions and events in the mother may contribute to pre-term labor:

• Preeclampsia
• Kidney disease
• Diabetes
• Infection
• Heart disease
• Lack of prenatal care
• Poor nutrition
• Young age (a mother age younger than 18)
• Substance abuse

A woman who has had any of the following is at increase risk of pre-term labor:

• Previous pre-term delivery
• Unexplained high alpha-fetoprotein level in the second trimester
• Untreated disease or infection (such as urinary tract infection or infection of the amniotic membranes)
• Problems with the uterus or cervix
• Premature rupture of the membranes or placenta previa

• Review Date: 12/27/2006
• Reviewed By: Ian Marshall, MD, Division of Pediatric Endocrinology, UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, NJ. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org). URAC's accreditation program is the first of its kind, requiring compliance with 53 standards of quality and accountability, verified by independent audit. A.D.A.M. is among the first to achieve this important distinction for online health information and services. Learn more about A.D.A.M.'s editorial process . A.D.A.M. is also a founding member of Hi-Ethics (www.hiethics.com) and subscribes to the principles of the Health on the Net Foundation (www.hon.ch).

The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. Copyright 1997-2007 A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.