What Are Some Effects of Being Born Premature?

A premature baby is considered one born before 37 weeks gestation. Although the newborn can face immediate problems, some problems can affect their entire lives. Geeta Swamy, Truls Ostbye and Rolv Skjaerven published a study in the March 2008 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association about the effects of being born prematurely.

Disabilities

• Some babies suffer from learning problems, mental retardation and hearing and vision loss, according to the study. Cerebral palsy and lung problems can also occur in infants born prematurely.

Reproduction

• People who were born prematurely are more likely to either not have children, or if they get pregnant, to have them prematurely as well. The rate of still-born deaths occur more often with women who were born prematurely, as well as having a 2 to 10 percent higher chance of babies who die within the first year of life, according to the JAMA study.

Autism

• Some studies have shown that babies born prematurely have a higher rate of developing autism, or at least the symptoms associated with it, such as speech and behavioral problems, according to the JAMA study.

Adult diseases

• Premature babies are more likely to have more health problems later in life, such as diabetes, heart disease and high blood pressure.

Education

• According to the JAMA study, premature babies have higher chances of dropping out of high school and not continuing on to college. Females born between 38 and 42 weeks had a drop-out rate of 24.7 percent, while premature females had a drop-out rate of 33.3 percent. Males born full term had a drop-out rate of 25.3 percent compared to the male premature infants at 35.6 percent.