If your baby is premature

Going into labour before 37 weeks can be very frightening, but nowadays your premature baby has a good chance of surviving. We tell you what to expect if you deliver early.

If your baby is born before 37 weeks of pregnancy, then she is considered premature. However, some babies younger than 27 weeks do survive. A few babies born at 22 weeks have pulled through, but the less time your baby spends in your uterus (womb), the greater she is at risk.

The causes

About one in 14 babies is born prematurely in the UK, and the reason is unknown in 50% of the cases. However, prematurity can be caused by the following:

* Diabetes

* Kidney or heart disease

* Pre-eclampsia (a life-threatening illness characterised by high blood pressure)

* Incompetent cervix (when the entrance of your uterus is weak)

* Multiple pregnancies may also cause problems, making early delivery necessary

Chances of survival

The survival rate of premature babies has improved greatly in recent years, but many babies still die as their systems are so fragile.

Most babies born past 32 weeks will do well, but they will probably have to spend time in a special care baby unit (SCBU). More than 80% of babies born past 28 weeks will survive, while babies born around 26 weeks have a 40% survival rate.

If labour starts early

If you've reached 34 weeks, you'll probably continue with your labour, but your baby may need special care. If you go into labour earlier, you may be given a drug to stop contractions, and steroid injections to give your baby's lungs a chance of maturing if she is born early. If prevention is not possible, your doctor may suggest a Caesarean, as this form of delivery is less tiring for a tiny baby.

My baby's looks

She may weigh less than 1kg (2lb 3oz). Her skin will probably be wrinkled, red and shiny, and her veins will probably be visible. She may also be covered in downy hair, and will look incredibly small and skinny.

Problems for your baby

* Breathing Your baby's immature lungs may need help in the form of oxygen or a ventilator, as she may stop breathing from time to time

* Feeding Your baby won't be able to suck and swallow easily, so won't be able to feed normally for a while. Instead, she will be fed via a tube, and may be given vitamin and iron supplements

* Temperature Small babies do not have the same layers of fat as full-term infants, so need the warmth of an incubator to maintain a steady temperature

* Infection Your baby will be more susceptible to infections than usual, but she will be given drugs to help fight them off

In the future

Your baby will stay in hospital until she weighs around 2.25kg (6lb) and is feeding well.

Most premature babies catch up with their full-term contemporaries by the end of their first year. However, research is being carried out to see if extremely premature babies' long-term development is affected.

Special care baby unit (SCBU)

Your baby will be nursed in an incubator in the SCBU, which aims to minimise your baby's health problems. It can be scary to see your baby in an incubator for the first time - as she's surrounded by machines and tubes, you may not feel like touching her. She won't be wearing any clothes, as nurses will need to check her skin colour.

You may be encouraged to try 'kangaroo care', which involves nursing your baby skin-to-skin on your chest for some of the time. This helps you bond with your baby.

You can also help in other ways: just talking to your baby can be effective, as your voice will be familiar to her from her time in your uterus.

Help for you

* BLISS (Baby Life Support Systems), tel: 0500 618140