prematur

Prematur is a term used to describe something that occurs or is done earlier than usual or expected. In medical and scientific usage, the word most often appears in connection with prematurity, especially preterm birth, where a baby is born before 37 completed weeks of gestation. The root comes from Latin prematurus, meaning “early” or “premature.”

Preterm birth is typically categorized by gestational age: extremely preterm (<28 weeks), very preterm (28 to <32 weeks), and moderate to late preterm (32 to <37 weeks). The condition is a leading cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality worldwide. Survival rates and health prospects improve with advancing gestational age and access to specialized neonatal care. Complications for preterm infants can include respiratory distress, temperature instability, feeding difficulties, jaundice, infections, and problems affecting the brain, eyes, or hearing. Long-term outcomes vary widely and can include neurodevelopmental disorders, learning difficulties, and increased risk of chronic health problems.

Causes and risk factors are multifactorial. They can include maternal infections, chronic conditions (such as hypertension or diabetes), cervical or uterine abnormalities, placenta-related problems, multiple pregnancies (twins, triplets), procurement of adequate prenatal care, smoking, drug or alcohol use, stress, and socioeconomic factors. In many cases, the exact cause is not identifiable.

Prevention and management emphasize timely prenatal care, management of maternal illnesses, and interventions to enhance fetal lung maturity when preterm birth seems likely. For babies born preterm, care often involves a NICU, respiratory support, temperature regulation, careful nutrition, and monitoring for complications. Advances in obstetrics and neonatology have improved survival and long-term outcomes for many preterm individuals. In broader language use, prematur can describe any event or process that occurs earlier than expected, across various fields.