Premature baby

Premature baby
A baby born before 37 weeks of gestation have passed. Historically, the definition of prematurity was 2500 grams (about 5 1/2 pounds) or less at birth. The current World Health Organization definition of prematurity is a baby born before 37 weeks of gestation, counting from the first day of the Last Menstrual Period (the LMP). Premature birth carries greater risks the earlier it occurs before that 37-week goal. A baby born a little prematurely may suffer few if any consequences. The earlier in fetal growth and development that birth takes place, the greater is the likelihood that life-support systems will be needed, and the greater the risk for birth defects and death. Many procedures are available to prevent early birth, from bed rest to medications. If premature birth is medically necessary or inevitable, however, it may be accomplished via C-section to limit stress on the fetus and protect it from damage. Colloquially, a premature baby is commonly called a preemie.

Medical dictionary. 2011.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • premature baby — baby that is born before it reaches the full term of development, baby born before its time …   English contemporary dictionary

  • premature baby — noun an infant that is born prior to 37 weeks of gestation • Syn: ↑preterm baby, ↑premature infant, ↑preterm infant, ↑preemie, ↑premie • Hypernyms: ↑neonate, ↑newborn, ↑ …   Useful english dictionary

  • premature — premature, untimely, forward, advanced, precocious are comparable though rarely interchangeable when they mean unduly early in coming, happening, or developing. Premature applies usually to something which takes place before its due or proper… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • Premature birth — ] *anxietycite journal |author=Dole N, Savitz DA, Hertz Picciotto I, Siega Riz AM, McMahon MJ, Buekens P |title=Maternal stress and preterm birth |journal=Am. J. Epidemiol. |volume=157 |issue=1 |pages=14–24 |year=2003 |pmid=12505886… …   Wikipedia

  • premature — pre|ma|ture [ˈpremətʃə, tʃuə, ˌpreməˈtʃuə US ˌpri:məˈtʃur] adj [Date: 1500 1600; : Latin; Origin: praematurus, from maturus; MATURE1] 1.) happening before the natural or proper time ▪ his premature death due to cancer ▪ premature ageing of the… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • premature — adjective 1 happening before the natural or proper time: His premature death at the age of 32 is a great loss. | premature ageing of the skin 2 pregnancy a premature baby is born before the usual time of birth: a premature birth | The baby was… …   Longman dictionary of contemporary English

  • baby — ba|by1 W1S1 [ˈbeıbi] n plural babies ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ 1¦(young child)¦ 2¦(young animal)¦ 3¦(vegetable)¦ 4¦(youngest)¦ 5¦(woman)¦ 6¦(silly person)¦ 7¦(responsibility)¦ 8¦(thing)¦ …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • premature — pre|ma|ture [ ,primə tjur ] adjective * 1. ) happening too soon or before the usual time: Alcohol is responsible for many thousands of premature deaths each year. It s a little premature to talk about concluding a deal. 2. ) a premature baby is… …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • premature */ — UK [ˈpremətʃə(r)] / US [ˌprɪməˈtjʊr] adjective 1) happening too soon or before the usual time Alcohol is responsible for many thousands of premature deaths each year. It s a little premature to talk about concluding a deal. 2) medical a premature …   English dictionary

  • premature — [[t]pre̱mətʃʊ͟ə(r), AM pri͟ː [/t]] 1) ADJ GRADED: usu ADJ n Something that is premature happens earlier than usual or earlier than people expect. Accidents are still the number one cause of premature death for Americans... His career was brought… …   English dictionary

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