The Demopædia Encyclopedia on Population is under heavy modernization and maintenance. Outputs could look bizarre, sorry for the temporary inconvenience

Multilingual Demographic Dictionary, second unified edition, English volume

Premature baby

Multilingual Demographic Dictionary, second unified edition, English vol.
Jump to: navigation, search
Premature baby  (PREMATURE baby)


Full term deliveries 1 occur when the pregnancy has lasted at least 37 weeks, measured in conventional duration of pregnancy (603-3*). A pregnancy ending before the normal period is termed a premature delivery 2 or premature confinement 2 or premature birth 2 and the product of this delivery is called a premature baby 4. Births which are not premature are called births at term 3 or full-term births 3. The word prematurity 5 is used to refer to phenomena connected with premature delivery. A classification of births by stage of development that does not depend upon an estimate of the period of gestation is used in many countries. In this classification a live-born infant with a birth weight 6 of 2,500 grams (5 1/2 lbs.) or less is said to be immature 8. Immaturity 7 is often combined with debility 9, an abnormal state of weakness. More...