Author
Bowtie Team
Updated on
2025-05-27
Disclaimer: This article is translated with the assistance of AI.
What defines premature birth and how many weeks is it? The earlier the birth, the greater the health risks, which may include breathing difficulties and temperature regulation issues. Let Bowtie team break down the causes, aftereffects, survival rates, and insurance tips.
Premature Birth: Types and Definition
According to World Health Organization (WHO) , premature birth refers to a baby born before 37 weeks of pregnancy . Based on gestational age, premature birth is divided into the following 3 categories:
- Extremely preterm (less than 28 weeks)
- Very preterm (28 to 32 weeks)
- Moderate to late preterm (32 to 37 weeks)
WHO statistics show that approximately 13.4 million premature babies were born in 2020, and The Chinese University of Hong Kong has published a medical report on premature birth in Hong Kong, indicating that the prevalence of premature birth in Hong Kong remains at 6.5% .
Premature Baby Survival Rates
Premature babies may face various health issues at birth, some of which can lead to severe complications, affecting survival rates:
| Gestational Period | Survival Rate |
| Less than 24 weeks | 50% |
| More than 28 weeks | 80% to 90% |
Complications of Premature Babies
Not all premature babies will experience complications. Generally, the earlier the baby is born, the higher the risk of complications. Birth weight also affects its likelihood.
Short-term complications of premature birth may appear in the first few weeks, including hypothermia, low blood sugar, heart, brain, and respiratory problems.
Long-term complications may include cerebral palsy, learning difficulties, vision, hearing, dental health, behavioral, and psychological health issues.
Premature babies are more prone to these long-term health problems, so they may require ongoing attention and treatment.
Signs of Premature Birth
Mothers can watch for the following signs of premature birth during pregnancy:
- Back pain usually in the lower back : Even changing positions or performing other comfortable movements cannot relieve it.
- Uterine contractions : Occurring once every 10 minutes or more frequently, and gradually increasing in speed and intensity.
- Lower abdominal cramps or cramps similar to menstrual pain : Or feeling like bloating and pain in the abdomen accompanied by diarrhea.
- Vaginal discharge of unknown fluid
- Flu-like symptoms : Such as nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.
- Increased pressure in the pelvis or vagina
- Increased vaginal discharge
- Vaginal bleeding : Including light bleeding.
Some of these signs are similar to those experienced in normal pregnancies, so we advice seeking medical advice early if in doubt.
Causes of Premature Birth
The exact causes of premature birth are not clear, but some factors may increase the risk.
1. Risk factors related to past and current pregnancies
- Carrying twins, triplets, or other multiples.
- An interval of less than 6 months between pregnancies; it is best to wait 18 to 24 months between pregnancies.
- Fertility treatments, such as in vitro fertilization.
- Multiple miscarriages or abortions.
- History of premature birth.
2. Health issues
- Problems with the uterus, cervix, or placenta.
- Certain infections, mainly in the amniotic fluid and reproductive organs.
- Ongoing health conditions, such as high blood pressure and diabetes.
- Physical injury or trauma.
3. Lifestyle choices
- Smoking, drug abuse, or heavy alcohol consumption during pregnancy.
- Being underweight or overweight before pregnancy.
- Becoming pregnant before age 17 or after age 35.
- Experiencing highly stressful life events, such as the death of a loved one or domestic violence.
Premature Birth Diagnosis
To diagnose whether premature birth might occur, doctors will perform a pelvic exam to determine if the cervix has begun to dilate, that is, open, in preparation for delivery. Doctors may also use transvaginal ultrasound to check if the cervix is thinning or shortening in preparation for dilation.
Real Story: Growth Journey Of A 26-Week Premature Baby
The arrival of new life brings infinite joy. Ms. Ho (pseudonym), expecting her first child, had made preparations and scheduled a C-section with a private doctor. However, plans don’t always go as expected.
When the fetus was 3 months old, Ms. Ho experienced bleeding symptoms. After examination, the doctor said the baby’s heartbeat was normal, and this could be due to insufficient progesterone, causing the uterine wall to be unstable, so they suggested more bed rest.
However, when the fetus reached 25 weeks (about 6 months old), Ms. Ho had bleeding symptoms again, so she went to the emergency room. After examination, doctors located a risk of premature birth, requiring her to stay in the hospital until the baby was born.
The doctor hoped Ms. Ho could carry the pregnancy to 37 or 38 weeks before delivery and explained the risks associated with premature birth at different gestational ages. However, when she reached 26 weeks, contractions began, and her son was born at 26 weeks, weighing 0.93kg, about the size of a palm.
Ms. Ho recalled that at first, she couldn’t hear her son cry, which was deeply worrying. The baby was immediately taken to the NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit) and placed in an oxygen box for 4 months. Due to low blood oxygen saturation, even after discharge, it requires to use oxygen generators and blood oxygen monitors at home until the baby turned 1.5 years old.
Since premature babies haven’t fully developed in the womb, they may face health issues after birth. Therefore, after discharge, her son needed regular follow-ups at over 10 different specialty clinics.
On the other hand, he also joined the Heep Hong Society Early Education and Training Centre for physiotherapy, speech therapy, and occupational therapy support to promote personal development.
Tips for Moms of Premature Babies
- Sometimes, when stress piles up, you might want to connect with others or seek advice. You can join the Hong Kong Preemie Parents Group on Facebook, where members encourage each other and share experiences.
- Premature babies may be too small for regular diapers. Some suppliers offer free diapers for premature infants. You can learn more here .
Can Premature Babies Get Insurance?
Critical Illness Insurance or VHIS: Insurance companies will assess the insured’s health from various aspects, including birth weight, gestational age, the child’s current age, premature complications , growth charts, and development.
If you want to provide coverage for your unborn baby, consider applying for coverage starting from the 18th week of pregnancy*, which covers various medical conditions, congenital and genetic diseases, as well as complications from pregnancy with Bowtie Children’s Growth Term CI , offering lifelong coverage up to HK$500,000.
- * Has completed the “structural” check, and the report results show no abnormalities
Sources
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