as we often hear , premature babies r more on health risks than the full term ones …but what risks are these exactly …???
can they really ever enjoy a normal healthy life …???
i’ll appreciate your feedback 
Of course they can. My triplets were born at 32 weeks ...that is about 7-8 weeks premature. They are all beautiful, healthy, and vibrant MashAllah.
that comment i think is for when they r born as in the present :p
My twins were 6-7 weeks premature and they weighed under 2lb each but they are fit and healthy now at 7.
Afia, don't worry. I agree with Kaleem, as there are no lasting health risks for babies born prematurely, especially after they have come out of the prolonged period of intensive care successfully.
As an expectant father :), I have been reading up on this topic, and have so far found little proof that premature babies suffer from any long term health risks, or development difficulties as they grow up. From what I have been reading with the advances in medicine over the last few years it is perfectly possible for a baby to be born as early as 24/25 weeks, survive and grow upto be a healthy child.
Kaleem you have triplets 
That’s cool! Masha Allah. Put up their picture won’t you?
well, i hope you all are right
but what about the ‘myths’ that coz they are given a lot of oxygen …they may go blind etc.
n that they will always develop slowly …like a five weeks premature
will reach a certain developmental level , 5 weeks later than normal …??? 
malik73…congrats in advance …hope everything turns out good for you 
K' from what i've been reading up so far:
Babies born before the 24th-26th week do not experience production of surfactant -- a substance which aids in normal respiration by allowing surface area of alveoli to react with Oxygen.
This itself is a major respiratory problem that may lead to other grand problems because oxygen may not be able to reach the vital organs.
I think life saving attempts are made nowadays regarding implementation of surfactant with the advances in medical science.
correct me if im wrong (nescio) :)
A link about premies, from the national institute of health:
Femme, if you do a search in Image, you will find pictures of Kaleem’s adorable girls. smile
[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by Kaleem: *
Of course they can. My triplets were born at 32 weeks ...that is about 7-8 weeks premature. They are all beautiful, healthy, and vibrant MashAllah.
[/QUOTE]
mashaAllah!! now i know someone who has triplets :)
Afia, my dads a paediatrician and yeah theres always a risk involved in premature births, but in many cases the babies grow up and lead normal lives,
i have a friend who was i think 2 months premature or more i cant remember but shes doing fine alhamdulillah
mashallah to all of you who had children who were born 6-7 weeks premature and are doing well…
I have to speak up because I feel like this thread is painting way too rosy of a picture.
I’m in perinatal QI and work with Neonatologist in a project to improve care and help prevent the birth of preemies for the entire state of California…we have 2 data sets one of babies under 1500 grams (2-3 pounds) and those over 1500 grams… so we’re dealing with the sickest and the littlest babies in all of California. I have been to many many conferences, lectures and discussion and not one physician will say oh it’s not a big deal to have a baby early…(4 weeks isn’t a biggie…when you start getting earlier especially earlier than 32 weeks, you run into more and more problems). Keep in mind these physicians that I work with are the best and brightest, are on national committees and work in the top academic medical centers such as Stanford, UCSF, UCLA and USC.
YES, medical science has advanced but nothing beats a womb and the benefits of having even one additional day or week in-utero far surpasses anything medicine has to offer.
If you’re having early delivery, there is alot science can do but not everything and you certainly don’t want to perceive pre-term labor or early delivery as something that isn’t a big thing or something that should not be prevented.
The march of dimes recently kicked off a project to improve women’s understanding and knowledge of what are the signs of pre term labor BECAUSE there has been a rapid increase in pre-term births, which leads to very expensive Neonatal ICU care and potentially long term health risks for the baby. These risks include chronic lung disease, developmental delays, and more.
Malik73
I wreally question where you got your info on 24/25 weeks as ok to be born, from the physicians i work with 26 weeks is the gestation that they think babies are most viable and the age that they are most aggressive in care. 26 weeks is viable but there is still high potental for lung and development issues.
As for surfactant, it is possible and highly recommended to give mother’s who are high risk for early delivery Ante-natal steroids during specific weeks of gestation (too early or late is not productive) because it helps improve lung development HOWEVER, many mother’s come in with pre-term labor and the baby is delivered too early to accurately and appropriately complete an ANS course that would be sufficient. If you want to know more about ante-natal steroid use in California hospitals and their rankings, I would suggest you go the healhscope’s website and look under prenatal care. If you’re a pregnant mom and you’re at high risk to devlive early and in (i don’t have the weeks of gestation at home with me, but PM me if you want it) the righ weeks of gestation there is no reason why your OB should not be giving you ANS and you should push for it.
I would suggest you look at the march of dimes’ website for more information on pre-term labor and the high risks in delivering babies early. http://www.marchofdimes.com/prematurity/prematurity.asp?link=prematurityBandImage
afia, most NICUs have learned from their mistakes and do not oxygenate the babies at such high levels so blindness is not as prevelant.
As for the development delay, it is the “norm” in preemies to be delayed the same amount of time that they were early..i.e 2 months early means 2 months later in life..this delay should only last till they are about 2..after age 2 then if there continues to be significant delays, the team gets worried. HOWEVER, this still means that a good health care team will make sure the babies are not that delayed either way.
Again, I don’t want to put a damper on all the positive events that occur and mashalla to the babies and triplets that are doing well, however, I have seen and known many more triplets/babies born at 32 weeks or less that have life long issue or take several years to catch up to what they should be doing.
From the March of dimes site (it's good info that is easy for the lay person to understand)
What Medical Complications Are Common in Premature Babies?
There are a number of complications that are more likely in premature than full-term babies. While babies born near term may have few or none of these problems, babies born before 32 to 34 weeks gestation may have a number of complications. In some cases, these complications may be fairly mild while, in other cases, they are severe and may lead to death of the premature infant.
Respiratory distress syndrome (RDS). About 40,000 babies a year — most of whom were born before the 34th week of pregnancy — suffer from this breathing problem. Babies with RDS lack a protein called surfactant that keeps small air sacs in the lungs from collapsing. Treatment with surfactant helps affected babies breathe more easily. Since treatment with surfactant was introduced in 1990, deaths from RDS have been reduced by more than 60 percent.
A doctor may suspect a baby has RDS if she is struggling to breathe; a lung X-ray and blood tests often confirm the diagnosis. Babies with RDS may need additional oxygen and mechanical breathing assistance to keep their lungs expanded. They may receive a treatment called continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), which delivers pressurized air to the baby’s lungs. The air may be delivered through small tubes in the baby’s nose, or through a tube that has been inserted into his windpipe. CPAP helps a baby breathe, but does not breathe for him. The sickest babies may temporarily need the help of a respirator to breathe for them while their lungs mature. They also may be treated with a gas called nitric oxide, which can improve breathing by helping blood vessels in the lungs relax.
Apnea. Premature babies sometimes stop breathing for 20 seconds or more. This interruption in breathing is called apnea, and it may be accompanied by a slow heart rate. Premature babies are constantly monitored for apnea. If the baby stops breathing, a nurse will stimulate the baby to start breathing by patting him or touching the soles of his feet.
Intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH). Bleeding in the brain occurs in about 10 to 50 percent of babies born before 34 weeks gestation, with the most premature babies at highest risk. The bleeds usually occur in the first four days of life and generally are diagnosed with an ultrasound examination. Most brain bleeds are mild and resolve themselves with no or few lasting problems. More severe bleeds can cause the fluid-filled spaces (ventricles) in the brain to expand rapidly, causing pressure on the brain that can lead to brain damage (resulting in learning and behavioral problems). In such cases, surgeons may insert a tube into the brain to drain the fluid and reduce the risk of brain damage. In milder cases, drugs sometimes can reduce fluid buildup.
Patent ductus arteriosis (PDA). PDA is a heart problem that is commonly seen in premature babies. Before birth, a large artery called the ductus arteriosus lets the blood bypass the lungs because the fetus gets its oxygen through the placenta. The ductus normally closes soon after birth so that blood can travel to the lungs and pick up oxygen. In premature babies, the ductus may not close properly, which can lead to heart failure and lack of oxygen to the organs. PDA can be diagnosed with a specialized form of ultrasound (echocardiography) or other imaging tests. Babies with PDA are treated with a drug that helps close the ductus, although surgery may be necessary if the drug does not work.
Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). Some premature babies develop this potentially dangerous intestinal problem (usually 2 to 3 weeks after birth), which leads to feeding difficulties, abdominal swelling and other complications. It is believed that the bowel may become damaged when its blood supply is decreased, and bacteria that are normally present in the bowel invade the damaged area, causing more damage. When tests (including X-rays and blood tests) show that a baby has NEC, he will be given antibiotics and fed intravenously while his bowel heals. In some cases, surgery is necessary to remove damaged sections of the intestine.
Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). ROP, an abnormal growth of blood vessels in the eye, occurs mainly in babies born before 32 weeks of pregnancy. It can lead to bleeding and formation of scars that can damage the retina of the eye, sometimes resulting in vision loss and blindness. Babies with mild ROP — which is diagnosed during an examination by an ophthalmologist eye doctor) — usually require no treatment because, in most cases, the eyes heal by themselves with little or no vision loss. In more severe cases, the ophthalmologist may treat the abnormal vessels with a laser or with cryotherapy (freezing) to protect the retina and preserve vision.
Jaundice. Premature babies are more likely than full-term babies to develop jaundice because their livers are too immature to remove a waste product called bilirubin from the blood. Babies with jaundice have a yellowish color to their skin and eyes. Jaundice often is mild and usually is not harmful; however, if bilirubin levels get too high, it can cause brain damage. This generally can be prevented because blood tests will show when bilirubin levels are too high, so the baby can be treated with special blue lights (phototherapy) that help the body break down and eliminate bilirubin. Occasionally, a baby may need a blood transfusion.
Anemia. Premature infants often are anemic, which means they do not have enough red blood cells. Normally, the fetus stores iron during the later months of pregnancy and uses it late in pregnancy and after birth to make red blood cells. Infants born too soon may not have had enough time to store iron. Babies with anemia tend to develop feeding problems and grow more slowly; anemia also can worsen any heart or breathing problems. Anemic infants may be treated with dietary iron supplements, new drugs that increase red blood cell production or, in severe cases, blood transfusion.
Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). BPD is a chronic lung disorder that most commonly affects premature infants who have required treatment with mechanical ventilation and oxygen for more than 28 days. These babies develop fluid in the lungs, scarring and lung damage, which can be seen on an X-ray. Affected babies are treated with medications that make breathing easier, and are slowly weaned from the ventilator. Their lungs usually heal over the first two years of life. Sometimes, however, severely affected babies develop a chronic lung disease resembling asthma.
Infections. Premature babies have immature immune systems that are inefficient at fighting off bacteria, viruses and other organisms that can cause infection. Serious infections that are commonly seen in premature babies include pneumonia (lung infection), sepsis (blood infection), and meningitis (infection of the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord). Babies can contract these infections at birth from their mothers, or they may become infected after birth from contact with infected family members, hospital staff or equipment; they also may develop infections from usually harmless bacteria found in their own bodies. Infections are treated with antibiotics or antiviral drugs.
What Is the Outlook for Babies Born at Less Than 29 Weeks?
Fewer than 2 percent of babies in this country are born this early, but these babies have the most complications. Most of these babies are born at very low birthweight (less than 3 pounds, 4 ounces). Those born at less than 26 weeks are likely to weigh only 1 to 2 pounds. Almost all will require treatment with oxygen, surfactant, and mechanical assistance to help them breathe. These babies are too immature to suck, swallow and breathe at the same time, so they must be fed through a vein (intravenously) until they develop these skills. They often cannot yet cry (or you cannot hear them due to the tube in their throat) and they sleep most of the day. These tiny babies have little muscle tone and most move very little.
Babies born at this time look very different than full-term babies. Their skin is wrinkled and reddish-purple in color, and is so thin that you can see the blood vessels underneath. Their face and body are covered in soft hair called lanugo. Because these babies have not had time to put on fat, they appear very thin. Most likely, their eyes are closed and they have no eyelashes.
These babies are at high risk for one or more of the complications discussed above. However, most babies born after about 26 weeks gestation do survive (about 75 percent at 26 weeks and about 85 percent at 29 weeks), although they may face an extended stay in the NICU. Unfortunately, about 30 percent of babies born at less than 26 weeks and about 20 percent of those born at 26 to 29 weeks develop serious, lasting disabilities.
What About Babies Born at 30 to 34 Weeks Gestation?
These babies look quite similar to babies born earlier, although they are larger (usually between 2 and 5 pounds) and even more likely to survive (about 90 to 95 percent). Some can breathe on their own, and many others just need supplemental oxygen to help them breathe (few need a respirator). Many of these babies can be fed breast milk or formula through a tube placed through their nose or mouth into the stomach; although some will need to be fed intravenously.
Some of these babies can cry. They can move more, although their movements may be jerky. A baby born at this time can grasp your finger. These babies can open their eyes and they begin to stay awake and alert for short periods.
Babies born at 30 to 34 weeks remain at risk for some of the complications discussed above; however, when complications occur, they may not be as severe. ROP rarely develops in babies born after 32 weeks gestation. Only about 15 percent of these babies develop serious disabilities.
Are Babies Born at 35 to 37 Weeks Gestation at Risk of Medical Problems?
Most babies born at this time require little or no special care after birth, and they are nearly as likely as full-term babies to survive. They usually weigh between 4 and 7 pounds, and still appear thinner than most full-term babies. Some will experience mild problems, such as breathing difficulties or jaundice, but most will make a quick recovery. Many of these babies can be breast- or bottle-fed, although some (especially those with mild breathing problems) may need tube-feeding for a brief time. These babies are very unlikely to develop disabilities resulting from premature birth.
I also was born to early one month.
But im healthy.
Nilu.