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A premature birth is a birth that takes place more than three weeks before the baby is due. In other words, a premature birth is one that occurs before the start of the 37th week of pregnancy. Normally, a pregnancy usually lasts about 40 weeks. 

Premature birth gives the baby less time to develop in the womb. Premature babies, especially those born earliest, often have complicated medical problems.

Depending on how early a baby is born, he or she may be:

• Late preterm, born between 34 and 36 weeks of pregnancy

• Moderately preterm, born between 32 and 34 weeks of pregnancy

• Very preterm, born at less than 32 weeks of pregnancy

• Extremely preterm, born at or before 25 weeks of pregnancy

Most premature births occur in the late preterm stage. 

A premature birth means that your baby hasn't had the usual amount of time to develop in the womb before needing to adapt to life outside the womb.

The signs that a baby's gestation has been cut short include:

• Small size, with a disproportionately large head

• Sharper looking, less rounded features than a full-term baby's features, due to a lack of fat stores

• Fine hair (lanugo) covering much of the body

• Low body temperature, especially immediately after birth in the delivery room, due to a lack of stored body fat

• Labored breathing or respiratory distress

• Lack of reflexes for sucking and swallowing, leading to feeding difficulties

Premature babies can quickly develop serious complications, such as infection in the bloodstream (sepsis) and respiratory distress syndrome. 

Often, the specific cause of premature birth isn't clear. Many factors may increase the risk of premature birth, however, including:

• Having a previous premature birth

• Pregnancy with twins, triplets or other multiples

• An interval of less than six months between pregnancies

• Conceiving through in vitro fertilization

• Problems with the uterus, cervix or placenta

• Smoking cigarettes or using illicit drugs

• Poor nutrition

• Not gaining enough weight during pregnancy

• Some infections, particularly of the amniotic fluid and lower genital tract

• Some chronic conditions, such as high blood pressure and diabetes

• Being underweight or overweight before pregnancy

• Stressful life events, such as the death of a loved one or domestic violence

• Multiple miscarriages or abortions

• Physical injury or trauma

For unknown reasons, black women are more likely to experience premature birth than are women of other races. But premature birth can happen to anyone. In fact, many women who have a premature birth have no known risk factors.

Right now, babies need all the help they can get. Premature birth affects about 450,000 babies here in the United States. We’re walking in March for Babies to get the message out about this terrible problem and you can help. Please make a secure donation to help us reach our goal. Together we can help the March of Dimes fight prematurity so more babies can get the strongest start possible.