Premature Infants
Problems in Newborns and Infants
A full-term infant has spent 37 to 42 weeks in the uterus. An infant born earlier than 37 weeks is considered premature; an infant born later than 42 weeks is considered postmature. Different problems are anticipated in infants who are premature, postmature, or full term at birth.
Premature Infant Features
- Small size
- Low birth weight
- Thin, shiny, pink skin
- Veins visible under the skin
- Little fat under the skin
- Scant hair
- Thin, floppy ears
- Relatively large head
- Underdeveloped breast tissue
- Weak muscles and reduced physical activity (a premature infant tends not to draw up the arms and legs as does a full-term infant)
- Poor sucking and swallowing reflexes
- Irregular breathing
- Small scrotum, with few folds (boys)
- Labia majora not yet covering the labia minora (girls)
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© Copyright May 2000 by Ken Jones.
