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Long-Term Effects of Preemies

A healthy, full-term pregnancy lasts approximately 37 to 42 weeks. Premature babies, born before 37 weeks of gestation, face immediate health risks, including an increased risk of mortality. While the risk of mortality decreases after the first year of life, unfortunately, there are often also long-term effects that come as a result of a premature birth.

  1. Mortality

    • While a premature baby's risk of mortality greatly decreases after surviving his first year, he still faces a higher risk of childhood mortality than a baby who was born after a full term pregnancy. An article by US News points out that boys who were born between 22 and 27 weeks' gestation face a risk of early childhood mortality (or dying between the ages of 1 and 6 years old) that is 5.3 times greater than a full-term child, respectively. Girls, on the other hand, have a 9.7 times greater risk of early childhood mortality.

    Chronic Lung Disease

    • When a baby is born prematurely, her lungs have often not fully developed yet. Due to their lungs' underdeveloped condition, children who were born prematurely may suffer from long-term health effects regarding their lungs. For instance, bronchopulmonary dysplasia is frequently found in premature infants whose lungs were underdeveloped and who were placed on a ventilator and exposed to high levels of oxygen. The lung disease impairs breathing and carries with it symptoms of shortness of breath, rapid breathing and a chronic cough.

    Neurological Problems

    • A premature birth may also result in a number of neurological problems, caused by an underdeveloped nervous system or lack of oxygen during the birth. Cerebral Palsy, a disorder of the cerebellum, threatens the motor abilities of the child. While its severity can vary, C.P. can leave a child incapable of walking, talking and participating in many of the activities enjoyed by healthy children. Intraventricular hemorrhage, or bleeding in the brain, can result in permanent brain damage. The short gestation time may also cause mental retardation or other mental disability and developmental delays.

    Delayed Growth

    • Along with more serious conditions, premature babies sometimes face general delayed growth and development. While many babies who were born prematurely will eventually catch up in size with babies who were born after a full term pregnancy, it can often take several years before the child has caught up to the average developmental stage. Because of their short gestation, many premature babies are born with underdeveloped organs, leading to overall frail health, which puts them at risk of other conditions or infections.

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