WHAT IS PRETERM BIRTH?
A full-term pregnancy lasts about 40-weeks.
Babies born before 37 weeks of pregnancy (gestation) are considered preterm.
Babies born before 28 weeks of pregnancy are considered extremely preterm.
Babies born before 23 weeks of pregnancy, rarely survive. The earlier a baby is born, the higher the risk of death and severe short-term and/or long-term health complications.
Preterm babies may need more help to eat and breathe, and they can suffer from disabilities, including digestive problems and bleeding in the brain. Preterm birth is the leading cause of death before baby's first birthday in the U.S.
Learn more about the County of Fresno's Prematurity Awareness Month Proclamation here