In Germany, one in ten children is born prematurely. This means that the baby is born in the 37th week of pregnancy or before the 260th day of pregnancy. There are three categories into which premature babies are divided. Extremely premature babies are those born up to the 27th week of pregnancy. Very premature babies are born between the 28th and 31st week. Late premature babies are born at 32 to 37 weeks.
Causes and risks for premature birth
The reasons for premature birth are often unclear. It can happen when the fetus does not develop properly. The age of the mother may also play a role in some cases. Thus, people under 18 and over 35 are more likely to have their pregnancies affected by premature births than others. Very underweight or overweight people’s pregnancies can also be at risk. Much clearer causes, however, are diseases such as diabetes or infections, vaginal disorders or uterine tumours. If increased high blood pressure occurs during pregnancy, special care should be taken. A gynaecologist's office should also be contacted as soon as possible in the event of upper abdominal pain, severe headaches, seeing auras or shapes in your field of vision, or severe water retention. These problems could be indications of pre-eclampsia. This is a disease which in severe cases can lead to premature birth. Premature contractions should also be checked by a doctor as soon as possible and mentioned during the usual check-ups so that the possibility of premature birth can be counteracted. In addition to the states of health of mother and child, there are of course also external factors. These include stress and tobacco and alcohol consumption during pregnancy.
What happens to the baby if it’s born early?
Babies born before the 28th week of pregnancy do not yet have fully functional organs. They therefore need particularly intensive medical care. They are placed in incubators where they are well protected from germs. Their temperature is regulated and they are fed and ventilated. For preemies born later, a warming cot may be all that is needed. However, it is good to know that in recent years the chances of survival for premature babies and the chances of a healthy development have improved significantly. The medical staff will do everything possible to give the baby the best start in their new life. For many parents, however, it is difficult to see the tiny baby surrounded by medical equipment, doctors and nurses. Some parents are afraid of this sight. Please don't blame yourself if you have such feelings. Talk to people you trust. You should unburden yourself as much as you can. Then you can better be there for the baby.
Strengthen the connection
Your voice and the voice of relatives are already familiar to the baby from during pregnancy. For example, you can make contact and bond with the baby through your voice and by talking to them. You can also read or sing to them. Because the baby notices you even when they are in the incubator. Direct physical contact is particularly beneficial for mother and child. In what's called kangaroo care, the baby lies on your bare torso. They only wear a diaper. For the child, it's nice to hear your heartbeat again and the touch strengthens the bond between you. Your partner can also connect with the baby in this way. Kangaroo care is also possible if the premature baby is still being ventilated. More mature babies can practice drinking directly from the breast. This also strengthens the bond between mother and child. If your baby is still too young, they can still feed from your breast milk and absorb many important nutrients in it. For this, the pumped milk is fed to the baby via a tube.
Organisational factors
The most important thing is that you get accustomed to the new situation. This is first and foremost about your welfare and the welfare of the child. But there are also many practical things that need to be sorted out. If you have older children, they may need supervision. In this case, you can get a medical certificate so that the health insurance company will cover the costs for a home aide. If you're working, you have to give notice at your workplace. You have to present a certificate of premature birth there, which you get at the clinic. Having a premature baby also postpones or extends your maternity leave.
Mönchebergstraße 41-43
34125 Kassel
- Medical treatment for infants
Leibnizstraße 3
38300 Wolfenbüttel
- Medical treatment for infants
Brenkhäuser Straße 69
37671 Höxter
- Medical treatment for infants
- Medical treatment for infants
Fischerstraße 5
38300 Wolfenbüttel
- Medical treatment for infants
Reitkamp 2
31785 Hameln
- Medical treatment for infants
- Medical treatment for infants
Lönsstraße 10
37697 Lauenförde
- Medical treatment for infants
- Medical treatment for infants
Hoelemannpromenade 7
37520 Osterode am Harz
- Medical treatment for infants
Holländische Straße 121
34246 Vellmar
- Medical treatment for infants
Garde-du-Corps-Straße 7
34117 Kassel
- Medical treatment for infants
Robert-Koch-Straße 40
37075 Göttingen
- Medical treatment for infants
Gaußstraße 24
38228 Salzgitter
- Medical treatment for infants
- Medical treatment for infants
Frankfurter Straße 65
34121 Kassel
- Medical treatment for infants
- Medical treatment for infants
Am Feuerteich 19
34346 Hann. Münden
- Medical treatment for infants
- Medical treatment for infants
Mönchebergstraße 41-43
34125 Kassel
- Medical treatment for infants
Robert-Koch-Straße 40
37075 Göttingen
- Medical treatment for infants
Mammutring 5
38226 Salzgitter-Lebenstedt
- Medical treatment for infants
Korbacher Straße 81
34132 Kassel
- Medical treatment for infants
Breite Straße 36
37154 Northeim
- Medical treatment for infants
Vor dem Tore 9
37073 Göttingen
- Medical treatment for infants
- Medical treatment for infants
- Medical treatment for infants
- Medical treatment for infants
Teichstraße 22
34130 Kassel
- Medical treatment for infants
- Medical treatment for infants
- Medical treatment for infants
Holländische Straße 198
34127 Kassel
- Medical treatment for infants
- Medical treatment for infants
Schanzenstraße 26
37431 Bad Lauterberg im Harz
- Medical treatment for infants
Obere Straße 54
37603 Holzminden
- Medical treatment for infants
Wilhelmshöher Allee 109
34121 Kassel
- Medical treatment for infants
Bahnhofstraße 2
38300 Wolfenbüttel
- Medical treatment for infants
Mönchebergstraße 41-43
34125 Kassel
- Medical treatment for infants
Robert-Koch-Straße 40
37075 Göttingen
- Medical treatment for infants
- Gynecological treatment
Lange Straße 57
34253 Lohfelden
- Medical treatment for infants
Wilhelmshöher Allee 122
34119 Kassel
- Medical treatment for infants
Bahnhofstraße 1
37115 Duderstadt
- Medical treatment for infants
Hennebergstraße 18a
37077 Göttingen
- Medical treatment for infants
Wolfhager 379
34128 Kassel
- Medical treatment for infants
- Medical treatment for infants
Ernst-August-Straße 15
37603 Holzminden
- Medical treatment for infants
Hauptstraße 62
34253 Lohfelden
- Medical treatment for infants
- Medical treatment for infants
Marktstraße 15
37574 Einbeck
- Medical treatment for infants
Kleiner Zimmerhof 10
38300 Wolfenbüttel
- Medical treatment for infants
Wilhelmshöher Allee 302a
34131 Kassel
- Medical treatment for infants
- Medical treatment for infants
An der Kilianikirche 14
37671 Höxter
- Medical treatment for infants
Rathausplatz 20
37120 Bovenden
- Medical treatment for infants
- Medical treatment for infants
Neue Straße 6
34376 Immenhausen
- Medical treatment for infants
Schulstraße 6
37441 Bad Sachsa
- Medical treatment for infants
Lutherplatz 1
34466 Wolfhagen
- Medical treatment for infants
37339 Breitenworbis
- Postpartum care
37083 Göttingen
- Postpartum care
- Postpartum care
34127 Kassel
- Postpartum care
- Postpartum care
- Postpartum care
Schulweg 3
38173 Sickte
- Postpartum care
Kasernenstraße 23
38106 Braunschweig
- Postpartum care
- Postpartum care
- Postpartum care
38162 Cremlingen
- Postpartum care
- Postpartum care
37154 Northeim
- Postpartum care
- Postpartum care
Nikolausberger Weg 20
37081 Göttingen
- Postpartum care
Mönchebergstraße 41-43
34125 Kassel
- Postpartum care
- Postpartum care
Waldweg 9
37073 Göttingen
- Postpartum care
- Gynecological treatment
37130 Gleichen
- Postpartum care
Hinter den Höfen 1
34317 Habichtswald
- Postpartum care
Kreuzstr.32 32
37581 Bad Gandersheim
- Postpartum care
- Postpartum care
- Postpartum care
37077 Göttingen
- Postpartum care
- Postpartum care
- Postpartum care
- Postpartum care
37586 Dassel-Hilwartshausen
- Postpartum care
99768 Harztor
- Postpartum care
Humboldtstraße 8
37073 Göttingen
- Postpartum care
- Gynecological treatment
Birkenkopfstraße 28
34132 Kassel
- Postpartum care
- Postpartum care
13086 Berlin
- Postpartum care
63179 Hausen
- Postpartum care
- Postpartum care
Harzburger Strasse 8
38304 Wolfenbüttel
- Postpartum care
- Postpartum care
- Postpartum care
Hinter den Höfen 1
34317 Habichtswald
- Postpartum care
Braunschweiger Straße 15
38518 Gifhorn
- Postpartum care
- Postpartum care
- Postpartum care
- Postpartum care
- Postpartum care
37181 Hardegsen
- Postpartum care
37073 Göttingen
- Postpartum care
37085 Göttingen
- Postpartum care
- Postpartum care
- Postpartum care
- Postpartum care
Hirschler Weg 15
38678 Clausthal Zellerfeld
- Postpartum care
- Postpartum care
38126 Braunschweig
- Postpartum care
37539 Bad Grund (Harz)
- Postpartum care
- Postpartum care
- Postpartum care
37127 Dransfeld
- Postpartum care
- Postpartum care
- Postpartum care
- Postpartum care
- Postpartum care
37077 Göttingen
- Postpartum care
Dessenborn 19
34125 Kassel
- Postpartum care
- Postpartum care
Arolser Straße 6
34471 Volkmarsen
- Postpartum care
34121 Kassel
- Postpartum care
- Postpartum care
- Postpartum care
- Postpartum care
37186 Moringen
- Postpartum care
- Postpartum care
- Postpartum care
- Postpartum care
34355 Staufenberg (Niedersachsen)
- Postpartum care
- Postpartum care
Neuer Weg 51c
38302 Wolfenbüttel
- Postpartum care
- Postpartum care
- Postpartum care
- Postpartum care
34346 Hann. Münden
- Postpartum care
37520 Osterode am Harz
- Postpartum care
- Postpartum care
Waldweg 9
37073 Göttingen
- Postpartum care
- Gynecological treatment
Liebenauer Straße 1
34369 Hofgeismar
- Postpartum care
Hillenwiese 15
38124 Braunschweig
- Postpartum care
37539 Bad Grund (Harz)
- Postpartum care
- Postpartum care
- Postpartum care
- Postpartum care
- Postpartum care
Potsdamer Straße 6A
27576 Bremerhaven
- Postpartum care
- Postpartum care
- Postpartum care
- Gynecological treatment
- Postpartum care
38315 Schladen
- Postpartum care
- Postpartum care
Brandaustraße 10
34127 Kassel
- Postpartum care
Württemberger Straße 22
34131 Kassel
- Postpartum care
- Postpartum care
- Postpartum care
- Postpartum care
- Postpartum care
- Postpartum care
37130 Gleichen
- Postpartum care
- Postpartum care
- Postpartum care
- Postpartum care
Rosenwall 2
38300 Wolfenbüttel
- Postpartum care
- Gynecological treatment
- Postpartum care
Über der Esebeeke
37079 Göttingen
- Postpartum care
- Postpartum care
- Postpartum care
- Postpartum care
Seebergstraße 18
34128 Kassel
- Postpartum care
- Postpartum care
Käthe-Kollwitz-Weg 3
34225 Baunatal
- Postpartum care
Neue Straße 24
37581 Bad Gandersheim
- Postpartum care
- Gynecological treatment
37073 Göttingen
- Postpartum care
51491 Overath
- Postpartum care
- Postpartum care
- Postpartum care
Nikolausberger Weg 20
37073 Göttingen
- Postpartum care
- Gynecological treatment
- Postpartum care
- Postpartum care
Auguststraße 7
26121 Oldenburg
- Postpartum care
- Postpartum care
- Postpartum care
- Postpartum care
- Gynecological treatment
Am Steinsgraben 19
37085 Göttingen
- Postpartum care
- Gynecological treatment
Dietrich-Bonhoeffer-Straße 1a
38300 Wolfenbüttel
- Postpartum care
37083 Göttingen
- Postpartum care
Hauptstraße 9
38170 Schöppenstedt
- Postpartum care
37434 Gieboldehausen
- Postpartum care
- Postpartum care
Unterstr. 26
37697 Lauenförde
- Postpartum care
- Postpartum care
37130 Gleichen
- Postpartum care
- Postpartum care
- Postpartum care
- Postpartum care
- Postpartum care
37574 Einbeck
- Postpartum care
- Postpartum care
73104 Börtlingen
- Postpartum care
- Postpartum care
- Postpartum care
Hennebergstraße 18a
37077 Göttingen
- Gynecological treatment
- Gynecological treatment
- Gynecological treatment
Westertorstraße 7
37115 Duderstadt
- Gynecological treatment
Baunsbergstraße 43
34131 Kassel
- Gynecological treatment
Mittelstraße 2
34379 Calden
- Gynecological treatment
Bahnhofstraße 4
38300 Wolfenbüttel
- Gynecological treatment
- Gynecological treatment
Berliner Straße 36
34253 Lohfelden
- Gynecological treatment
Bahnhofstraße 2
37520 Osterode am Harz
- Gynecological treatment
- Gynecological treatment
Am Bahnhof 1a
37520 Osterode am Harz
- Gynecological treatment
Auf der Höhe 2
37574 Einbeck
- Gynecological treatment
- Gynecological treatment
Wilhelmshöher Allee 129
34121 Kassel
- Gynecological treatment
Goethestraße 47
34119 Kassel
- Gynecological treatment
- Gynecological treatment
- Gynecological treatment
Mühlenstraße 12
34359 Reinhardshagen
- Gynecological treatment
- Gynecological treatment
Weender Straße 57
37081 Göttingen
- Gynecological treatment
Postplatz 3
37431 Bad Lauterberg im Harz
- Gynecological treatment
- Gynecological treatment
- Gynecological treatment
- Gynecological treatment
In den Blumentriften 17
38226 Salzgitter-Lebenstedt
- Gynecological treatment
Rabbethgestraße 15
37574 Einbeck
- Gynecological treatment
Holländische Straße 84
34127 Kassel
- Gynecological treatment
Landgraf-Karl-Straße 1
34131 Kassel
- Gynecological treatment
Am kleinen Ofenberg 1
34466 Wolfhagen
- Gynecological treatment
- Gynecological treatment
- Gynecological treatment
Osterstraße 51
31785 Hameln
- Gynecological treatment
Bahnhofstraße 28
37115 Duderstadt
- Gynecological treatment
- Gynecological treatment