Checks For Premature Babies

Premature babies can arrive 3 to almost 15 weeks earlier than the approximate due date at 40 weeks.

Checks for premature babies. Late preterm born between 34 and 36 completed weeks of pregnancy moderately preterm born between 32 and 34 weeks of pregnancy very preterm born at less than 32 weeks of pregnancy extremely preterm born at or before 25 weeks of pregnancy most premature births occur in the late preterm stage. You may be anxious about your baby s health and the long term effects of premature birth. Premature babies grow more slowly than babies born at full term. Premature babies those born before 37 weeks often suffer from low birth weight and underdeveloped lungs and other organs.

Some premature babies need eye checks to screen for a condition called retinopathy of prematurity. Rop tends to affect premature babies who weigh less than 2 pounds and are born before the 31 st week of pregnancy. How early a baby is born makes a difference in your baby s health and in their birth weight. Find out what happens when your premature baby has an eye check to look at the back of the eye.

Depending on how early a baby is born he or she may be. For infants that qualify under the low birth weight listing the first cdr will happen before your child is one year old. If your baby was born premature or had a low birth weight you may be able to get social security benefits for your baby. They have a higher risk of certain long term health problems including autism intellectual disabilities cerebral palsy lung.

While social security does not have a specific impairment listing for premature birth or low birth weight there is a listing that addresses developmental and emotional impairments in children up to three years of age. They have a greater risk of developing serious infections and respiratory distress syndrome causing lack of oxygen which can in turn cause long term problems. Eligibility for such programs varies by state. This can really help with paying for your baby s hospital stay and other medical bills or with child care for your premature baby.

Babies who are identified as at risk may receive further evaluation and be referred to early intervention services. A full term pregnancy lasts 38 42 weeks a full term pregnancy lasts 38 42. Caring for a premature baby can be physically and emotionally exhausting.