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Psychological development in preterm infants

Do preemies suffer psychologically?

A comparative study was conducted in September of 1983 in which six doctors studied twenty four low-risk preemie babies and ten full-term ("regular") babies for information on the psychological development in preterm infants. The results were assessed at three months, six months, nine months and twelve months. A fairly large percentage of the infants studied (between sixty nine and seventy five percent) exhibited various signs of minor transient neurological anomalies. However, no major neurological anomalies, such as cerebral palsy, or mental impairment, were found. The psychological development of preterm infants seems to depend on several factors, including precisely how many days or weeks early the preemie was born, the mother's health during the pregnancy and more.

In general, a baby is considered premature if the mother's pregnancy lasts fewer than thirty seven weeks. (Forty two weeks is the average pregnancy length). Often this condition is out of the mother's hands, but occasionally premature birth occurs because of the mother's habits, such as alcohol consumption, below normal weight gain, or smoking. Anemia, low blood pressure and apnea (loss of breathing) are some common issues preemies will face when they are born. Infection and respiratory distress syndrome are also common. Extra-vigilant care is required. Speech therapy and physical therapy can help alleviate future problems. As they grow older, children who were born prematurely will continue to have special needs that should be attended to. Because about one of every eight American children is born prematurely, medical advancements have been rapid, albeit pricey for the parents.

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