A premature baby is at a higher risk of facing various short and long-term health issues. These can impact their development and overall well-being. Understanding them can help parents cope and feel better prepared to support their newborns.

Common short-term health issues for premature babies.

Breathing difficulties: Premature babies have little or no surfactant. Without it, the lungs collapse after air is introduced into them, and the inner surfaces of the lungs will stick together, increasing the pressure needed to open the lungs. In fact, one of the biggest revolutions in the care of premature infants has been the development of artificial surfactants.
Jaundice is very common in premature babies. It occurs when an immature liver can’t efficiently excrete bilirubin, a by-product of the breakdown of red blood cells. It’s easy to diagnose because a jaundice baby’s skin will turn yellow a few days after birth. Phototherapy is a safe and effective treatment that involves exposing the baby to a special light that keeps bilirubin levels low.
Premature babies have difficulty maintaining their body temperature due to a lack of subcutaneous fat and underdeveloped thermoregulatory systems. They require a controlled environment and may need incubators or warmers to maintain their body temperature.
Staying warm can be challenging for premature babies, as they lack subcutaneous fat and their natural thermoregulation is underdeveloped. They need a controlled environment, possibly an incubator or radiant heater, to help maintain their body temperature.
Feeding difficulties:It may be some time before your premature baby can feed from the breast or a bottle. They may not be able to digest milk at first, in which case they will be given all the nutrients they need via a vein.
Premature babies have underdeveloped immune systems that are less able to fight infections than those of full-term newborns. They are especially susceptible to sepsis, pneumonia, and other infections and require prompt intervention. Infections such as bronchiolitis, which are often minor in an older baby, can devastate a premature baby, particularly if he has other problems, such as chronic lung disease.

Common long-term health issues for premature babies.

Neurological and developmental delays: Parents often ask if their premature child will have any long-term developmental difficulties, particularly with walking and talking. The answers to such questions vary hugely, but we do know that preterm infants are at a higher risk of cognitive, motor, and behavioural delays compared to their full-term counterparts. Ultrasound scans and, in some cases, MRI scans of the brain can give your doctor a great deal of useful information about the sort of problems your baby may encounter. If something major is anticipated, you will be informed, but the only way to be certain of your baby’s long-term development is to wait and see.

Vision and Hearing Impairment: Premature babies have a higher incidence of vision and hearing problems. All very premature babies are at risk of retinal prematurity (ROP), a disorganised growth of blood vessels in the eye. It is not common, but your premature baby will be tested regularly to look for signs of it. In severe cases, it can lead to retinal detachment and blindness. Early detection is vital, as laser treatment at this stage can keep ROP from progressing. Preterm infants are also at an increased risk of hearing loss, which requires their own regular checks and interventions.

Chronic Health Conditions: Being born prematurely is also associated with the development of chronic problems later in life. These include asthma, obesity, hypertension, diabetes, and neurodevelopmental disorders.

Behavioural Problems: Issues around behaviour are common in children who were born very prematurely. Sometimes these problems can be behavioural responses to difficulties with movement—often there is a pattern of muscular tension and restriction of joints, which can exacerbate behavioural problems.

Addressing Prematurity Complications

It can be distressing to deal with prematurity complications. Early identification, monitoring, and intervention are crucial for minimising their impact and supporting the long-term well-being of premature babies. Chronic health conditions can be effectively managed, and there are therapies available that can help with movement, speech, and neurodevelopmental problems. Learning practical skills from occupational and other therapists can also help your child hit their developmental milestones and reach their full potential.

Prematurity Complications: Short and Long-term Health Outcomes

On Unii’s Premature Baby Journey, we look at some common health issues preterm infants face.