Common Preemie Health Issues

Prematurely born babies, often called preemies, often have health issues that normal, full-term babies do not. A number of factors can cause a mother to go into premature labor, including her health problems as well as the baby’s own issues.

The nonprofit group March of Dimes estimates that 12.8% of babies are born prematurely. This translates to over 500,000 babies annually. Given this rate, it can be a good idea to have a general working knowledge of things you might expect if you give birth to a preemie.

Medical Issues Seen in Preemies

After you give birth to a premature baby, your doctor should be prepared to treat your new family member as necessary. The medical staff should watch out for the following issues:

Respiratory Distress Syndrome (RSD). RSD occurs because a preemie may not have enough surfactant in his or her lungs. Surfactant is a protein that keeps the air sacs of lungs, or alveolae, from collapsing. Typically, treatment with a surfactant replacement is all the baby will need, but in some cases ventilators and other mechanical devices will help your baby. Watch out for your baby struggling to breathe, the main symptom of RSD.

Intraventricular Hemorrhage (IVH). IVH results in bleeding in the brain. Although most times IVH will fix itself, in some cases prolonged IVH can cause a buildup of fluid pressure on the brain, causing brain damage such as cerebral palsy. In these cases, a doctor should drain the fluid and blood out of the skull so that the risk of brain damage is lessened.

Patent Ductus Arteriosis (PDA). For fetuses, the ductus arteriosus allows the baby to receive oxygen from the mom through the placenta, rather than from the lungs of the child. After birth, the ductus arteriosus should close itself off so that the baby will get oxygen from its own lungs. Sometimes, however, the artery fails to close and may cause heart failure. A baby with PDA can usually be treated with medication and surgery.

Contact Us

If you believe that doctors have mishandled your premature baby, resulting in a birth injury, we may be able to help. Contact the Philadelphia birth injury lawyers of Lowenthal & Abrams, P.C., today at 215-238-1130.