premature birth

premature birth
Birth less than 37 weeks after conception.

Infants born as early as 23–24 weeks may survive but many face lifelong disabilities (e.g., cerebral palsy, blindness, deafness). Premature infants account for 8–9% of live births but two-thirds of infant deaths. 40–50% of cases have no explanation; other cases can be attributed to such causes as maternal hypertension or diabetes, multiple pregnancy, or placental separation. With good care, about 85% of live-born premature infants should survive. Infants born very early (before 32–34 weeks) lack fully developed lungs and often develop respiratory distress syndrome. They also have problems maintaining body temperature and fighting infection. Most deaths result from breathing problems, infections, and brain or lung hemorrhages. Premature infants are characterized by low birth weight, small size, irregular breathing, absence of subcutaneous fat, and thin skin.

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • 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 birth — A birth that takes place 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… …   Medical dictionary

  • premature birth and postmature birth — ▪ medicine       in humans, respectively, any birth that occurs significantly before or after the expected date of delivery.       A premature birth is defined as one that occurs less than 37 weeks after conception. In the United States… …   Universalium

  • premature birth — noun a) The birth of an infant prior to the completion of its prenatal development. b) Childbirth occurring earlier than 37 completed weeks of gestation, but later than 20th week, which is regarded a miscarriage. See Also: preemie, preterm birth …   Wiktionary

  • premature birth — see preterm birth …   The new mediacal dictionary

  • premature birth — A birth occurring before the expiration of the natural period of pregnancy. Sullivan v Old Colony Street R. Co. 197 Mass 512, 83 NE 1091. See miscarriage …   Ballentine's law dictionary

  • birth — W2S2 [bə:θ US bə:rθ] n [Date: 1200 1300; : Old Norse; Origin: byrth] 1.) give birth (to sb) if a woman gives birth, she produces a baby from her body ▪ Patsy was celebrating last night after giving birth to twins. 2.) [U and C] the time when a… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • 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 — Pre ma*ture , a. [L. praematurus; prae before + maturus ripe. See {Mature}.] 1. Mature or ripe before the proper time; as, the premature fruits of a hotbed. [1913 Webster] 2. Happening, arriving, existing, or performed before the proper or usual… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Birth — is the act or process of bearing or bringing forth offspring [http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/birth] . The offspring is brought forth from the mother. Different forms of birth are oviparity, vivipary or ovovivipary.Two words used to… …   Wikipedia

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