What is considered preemie?

Re: What is considered preemie?

• ijack member

  September 2009

  babies are considered premature if they are born before 36 or 37 weeks (it differs depending on who you talk to).

  Emma - March '08 Quinn - August '11
  Need help with high fat food ideas? Chunky Monkey

  Report0 Reply
• Loading the player...
• alicatt79 member

  September 2009

  So either way, she does not qualify.  Thanks!

  Report0 Reply
• RRHsMom

  September 2009

  The "definition" is a baby born before 37 weeks as 37 weeks is "full term."  The size of a baby does not make it a preemie but some babies with low birth weight can have struggles at birth.  6 lbs is not usually a cause for concern even though that is on the smaller end of a full termer.  Although many babies born at 36 weeks are fine and go home with mom, leading many to believe they are "safe" at this point, my son is proof that this is not always the case and even later term premature infants can have major hurtles to overcome.  I rarely refer to him as a preemie as he was so close to term so I call him my NICU survivor instead. 

  As a mom of a NICU survivor a comment like that would annoy me but I doubt I would say anything.  However if I was in a bold mood it might be good to educate her so she does not come off sounding misinformed when she claims her 37 weeker is a preemie.  She just probably has no idea as many people don't until they have been through it.   

  Report0 Reply
• franciscaz member

  September 2009

  I had a 37 wk 5 lb boy who was 4.5 lbs at discharge.  He was small so I refereed to him as premie sized but HE WAS NO PREMIE.  He breathed on his own, ate, came home, etc.  Any baby who does this is not what I consider Premie.
  

  Mom to Harmon 1/17/08 and twins Rachel & Callum 8/28/09

  Report0 Reply