Although biological immaturity is the main concern in caring for pre-term babies, weight also indicates how well a baby will do after birth-the smaller the baby, the greater the risks involved and he more intensive the care needed.

Some hospitals set aside an area in their regular nurseries for their larger and healthier "premies." Very small or sick babies are placed in intensive care nurseries where specially trained nurses care for them under the supervision of neonatologists, doctors who specialize in treating newborns.

If a hospital is not equipped with an intensive care nursery, it may transfer the baby to a specialized center shortly after birth. Some women who begin labor too early are sent directly to a specialized center to deliver their babies.

Premature birth is a serious health problem. Premature babies are at increased risk for newborn health complications, as well as lasting disabilities, such as mental retardation, cerebral palsy, lung and gastrointestinal problems, vision and hearing loss, and even death. Many premature babies require care in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), which has specialized medical staff and equipment that can deal with the multiple problems faced by premature infants.

Most premature babies (71.2 percent) are born between 34 and 36 weeks of gestation (1). These are called late preterm births. Almost 13 percent of premature babies are born between 32 and 33 weeks of gestation, about 10 percent between 28 and 31 weeks, and about 6 percent at less than 28 weeks of gestation (1).

All premature babies are at risk for health problems, but those born before about 32 weeks of gestation face the highest risk. These babies usually are very small, and their organs are less developed than those of babies born later. Fortunately, advances in obstetrics and neonatology (the branch of pediatrics that deals with newborns) have improved the chances of survival for even these smallest babies.

Not only are premature babies often small and sick, but also they may look and behave very differently than full-term babies. For example, their skin may be thin and wrinkled, and their heads may look too large for their bodies. But these babies look the way they should at their stage of development. They will begin to appear and act more like full-term babies as they continue to develop and grow. Throughout their first year of life, these babies should be evaluated according to their adjusted age (which takes the extent of their prematurity into account).

References :
march of dimes.com