Preterm and Birth Risks
A baby born alive before the 37th week of pregnancy is considered preterm. Preterm birth is classified according to gestational age: extremely early (less than 28 weeks), very preterm (28 to 32 weeks), and mild to late (32 to 37 weeks). An induction or surgical birth should not be arranged before 39 weeks unless medically required. An estimated 15 million babies are born prematurely each year. This category includes more than one out of every ten infants. Every year, over one million children die as a result of preterm delivery complications. Many survivors may face challenges for the rest of their life, such as learning disabilities and vision and hearing problems.