Your baby may have very mild symptoms of premature birth or more-serious health problems. Some signs of being born too early include:  Small size, with a head that's large compared with the body.  Features that are sharper and less rounded than a full-term baby's features due to a lack of cells that store fat.  Fine hair that covers much of the body. Low body temperature, mainly right after birth in the delivery room. Trouble breathing. Feeding problems.  The following tables show the median birth weight, length and head circumference of premature babies at different gestational ages for each sex.    Weight, length and head circumference by gestational age for boys     Gestational age Weight  Length Head circumference   40 weeks 7 lbs., 15 oz.             (3.6 kg) 20 in. (51 cm) 13.8 in. (35 cm)   35 weeks 5 lbs., 8 oz.             (2.5 kg) 18.1 in. (46 cm) 12.6 in. (32 cm)   32 weeks 3 lbs., 15.5 oz.             (1.8 kg) 16.5 in. (42 cm) 11.6 in. (29.5 cm)   28 weeks 2 lbs., 6.8 oz.             (1.1 kg) 14.4 in. (36.5 cm) 10.2 in. (26 cm)   24 weeks 1 lb., 6.9 oz.             (0.65 kg) 12.2 in. (31 cm) 8.7 in. (22 cm)      Weight, length and head circumference by gestational age for boys    Weight, length and head circumference by gestational age for boys  Weight, length and head circumference by gestational age for boys   Gestational age Weight  Length Head circumference   40 weeks 7 lbs., 15 oz.             (3.6 kg) 20 in. (51 cm) 13.8 in. (35 cm)   35 weeks 5 lbs., 8 oz.             (2.5 kg) 18.1 in. (46 cm) 12.6 in. (32 cm)   32 weeks 3 lbs., 15.5 oz.             (1.8 kg) 16.5 in. (42 cm) 11.6 in. (29.5 cm)   28 weeks 2 lbs., 6.8 oz.             (1.1 kg) 14.4 in. (36.5 cm) 10.2 in. (26 cm)   24 weeks 1 lb., 6.9 oz.             (0.65 kg) 12.2 in. (31 cm) 8.7 in. (22 cm)    Gestational age Weight  Length Head circumference  Gestational age Weight  Length Head circumference  40 weeks 7 lbs., 15 oz.             (3.6 kg) 20 in. (51 cm) 13.8 in. (35 cm)  40 weeks 7 lbs., 15 oz.             (3.6 kg)  20 in. (51 cm) 13.8 in. (35 cm)  35 weeks 5 lbs., 8 oz.             (2.5 kg) 18.1 in. (46 cm) 12.6 in. (32 cm)  35 weeks 5 lbs., 8 oz.             (2.5 kg)  18.1 in. (46 cm) 12.6 in. (32 cm)  32 weeks 3 lbs., 15.5 oz.             (1.8 kg) 16.5 in. (42 cm) 11.6 in. (29.5 cm)  32 weeks 3 lbs., 15.5 oz.             (1.8 kg)  16.5 in. (42 cm) 11.6 in. (29.5 cm)  28 weeks 2 lbs., 6.8 oz.             (1.1 kg) 14.4 in. (36.5 cm) 10.2 in. (26 cm)  28 weeks 2 lbs., 6.8 oz.             (1.1 kg)  14.4 in. (36.5 cm) 10.2 in. (26 cm)  24 weeks 1 lb., 6.9 oz.             (0.65 kg) 12.2 in. (31 cm) 8.7 in. (22 cm)  24 weeks 1 lb., 6.9 oz.             (0.65 kg)  12.2 in. (31 cm) 8.7 in. (22 cm)    Weight, length and head circumference by gestational age for girls     Gestational age Weight Length Head circumference   40 weeks 7 lbs., 7.9 oz.             (3.4 kg) 20 in. (51 cm) 13.8 in. (35 cm)   35 weeks 5 lbs., 4.7 oz.             (2.4 kg) 17.7 in. (45 cm) 12.4 in. (31.5 cm)   32 weeks 3 lbs., 12 oz.             (1.7 kg) 16.5 in. (42 cm) 11.4 in. (29 cm)   28 weeks 2 lbs., 3.3 oz.             (1.0 kg) 14.1 in. (36 cm) 9.8 in. (25 cm)   24 weeks 1 lb., 5.2 oz.             (0.60 kg) 12.6 in. (32 cm) 8.3 in. (21 cm)      Weight, length and head circumference by gestational age for girls    Weight, length and head circumference by gestational age for girls  Weight, length and head circumference by gestational age for girls   Gestational age Weight Length Head circumference   40 weeks 7 lbs., 7.9 oz.             (3.4 kg) 20 in. (51 cm) 13.8 in. (35 cm)   35 weeks 5 lbs., 4.7 oz.             (2.4 kg) 17.7 in. (45 cm) 12.4 in. (31.5 cm)   32 weeks 3 lbs., 12 oz.             (1.7 kg) 16.5 in. (42 cm) 11.4 in. (29 cm)   28 weeks 2 lbs., 3.3 oz.             (1.0 kg) 14.1 in. (36 cm) 9.8 in. (25 cm)   24 weeks 1 lb., 5.2 oz.             (0.60 kg) 12.6 in. (32 cm) 8.3 in. (21 cm)    Gestational age Weight Length Head circumference  Gestational age Weight Length Head circumference  40 weeks 7 lbs., 7.9 oz.             (3.4 kg) 20 in. (51 cm) 13.8 in. (35 cm)  40 weeks 7 lbs., 7.9 oz.             (3.4 kg)  20 in. (51 cm) 13.8 in. (35 cm)  35 weeks 5 lbs., 4.7 oz.             (2.4 kg) 17.7 in. (45 cm) 12.4 in. (31.5 cm)  35 weeks 5 lbs., 4.7 oz.             (2.4 kg)  17.7 in. (45 cm) 12.4 in. (31.5 cm)  32 weeks 3 lbs., 12 oz.             (1.7 kg) 16.5 in. (42 cm) 11.4 in. (29 cm)  32 weeks 3 lbs., 12 oz.             (1.7 kg)  16.5 in. (42 cm) 11.4 in. (29 cm)  28 weeks 2 lbs., 3.3 oz.             (1.0 kg) 14.1 in. (36 cm) 9.8 in. (25 cm)  28 weeks 2 lbs., 3.3 oz.             (1.0 kg)  14.1 in. (36 cm) 9.8 in. (25 cm)  24 weeks 1 lb., 5.2 oz.             (0.60 kg) 12.6 in. (32 cm) 8.3 in. (21 cm)  24 weeks 1 lb., 5.2 oz.             (0.60 kg)  12.6 in. (32 cm) 8.3 in. (21 cm) Special care If you give birth to a preterm baby, your baby will likely need to stay in a special nursery unit at the hospital. Some infants need to spend time in a unit that cares for them and closely tracks their health day and night. This is called a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). A step down from the NICU is an intermediate care nursery, which provides less intensive care. Special nursery units are staffed with health care providers and a team that's trained to help preterm babies. NICU Your baby may need extra help feeding and adapting right after delivery. Your health care team can help you understand what's needed and what your baby's care plan will be. Feel free to ask them questions.
baby may mild symptoms premature birth more-serious health problems  signs being born early include:  small size  head that's large compared body   features sharper rounded full-term baby's features due lack cells store fat   fine hair covers body  low body temperature  mainly right birth delivery room  trouble breathing  feeding problems   following tables show median birth weight  length head circumference premature babies gestational ages sex     weight  length head circumference gestational age boys     gestational age weight  length head circumference   40 weeks 7 lbs  15 oz              (3 6 kg) 20 in  (51 cm) 13 8 in  (35 cm)   35 weeks 5 lbs  8 oz              (2 5 kg) 18 1 in  (46 cm) 12 6 in  (32 cm)   32 weeks 3 lbs  15 5 oz              (1 8 kg) 16 5 in  (42 cm) 11 6 in  (29 5 cm)   28 weeks 2 lbs  6 8 oz              (1 1 kg) 14 4 in  (36 5 cm) 10 2 in  (26 cm)   24 weeks 1 lb  6 9 oz              (0 65 kg) 12 2 in  (31 cm) 8 7 in  (22 cm)      weight  length head circumference gestational age boys    weight  length head circumference gestational age boys  weight  length head circumference gestational age boys   gestational age weight  length head circumference   40 weeks 7 lbs  15 oz              (3 6 kg) 20 in  (51 cm) 13 8 in  (35 cm)   35 weeks 5 lbs  8 oz              (2 5 kg) 18 1 in  (46 cm) 12 6 in  (32 cm)   32 weeks 3 lbs  15 5 oz              (1 8 kg) 16 5 in  (42 cm) 11 6 in  (29 5 cm)   28 weeks 2 lbs  6 8 oz              (1 1 kg) 14 4 in  (36 5 cm) 10 2 in  (26 cm)   24 weeks 1 lb  6 9 oz              (0 65 kg) 12 2 in  (31 cm) 8 7 in  (22 cm)    gestational age weight  length head circumference  gestational age weight  length head circumference  40 weeks 7 lbs  15 oz              (3 6 kg) 20 in  (51 cm) 13 8 in  (35 cm)  40 weeks 7 lbs  15 oz              (3 6 kg)  20 in  (51 cm) 13 8 in  (35 cm)  35 weeks 5 lbs  8 oz              (2 5 kg) 18 1 in  (46 cm) 12 6 in  (32 cm)  35 weeks 5 lbs  8 oz              (2 5 kg)  18 1 in  (46 cm) 12 6 in  (32 cm)  32 weeks 3 lbs  15 5 oz              (1 8 kg) 16 5 in  (42 cm) 11 6 in  (29 5 cm)  32 weeks 3 lbs  15 5 oz              (1 8 kg)  16 5 in  (42 cm) 11 6 in  (29 5 cm)  28 weeks 2 lbs  6 8 oz              (1 1 kg) 14 4 in  (36 5 cm) 10 2 in  (26 cm)  28 weeks 2 lbs  6 8 oz              (1 1 kg)  14 4 in  (36 5 cm) 10 2 in  (26 cm)  24 weeks 1 lb  6 9 oz              (0 65 kg) 12 2 in  (31 cm) 8 7 in  (22 cm)  24 weeks 1 lb  6 9 oz              (0 65 kg)  12 2 in  (31 cm) 8 7 in  (22 cm)    weight  length head circumference gestational age girls     gestational age weight length head circumference   40 weeks 7 lbs  7 9 oz              (3 4 kg) 20 in  (51 cm) 13 8 in  (35 cm)   35 weeks 5 lbs  4 7 oz              (2 4 kg) 17 7 in  (45 cm) 12 4 in  (31 5 cm)   32 weeks 3 lbs  12 oz              (1 7 kg) 16 5 in  (42 cm) 11 4 in  (29 cm)   28 weeks 2 lbs  3 3 oz              (1 0 kg) 14 1 in  (36 cm) 9 8 in  (25 cm)   24 weeks 1 lb  5 2 oz              (0 60 kg) 12 6 in  (32 cm) 8 3 in  (21 cm)      weight  length head circumference gestational age girls    weight  length head circumference gestational age girls  weight  length head circumference gestational age girls   gestational age weight length head circumference   40 weeks 7 lbs  7 9 oz              (3 4 kg) 20 in  (51 cm) 13 8 in  (35 cm)   35 weeks 5 lbs  4 7 oz              (2 4 kg) 17 7 in  (45 cm) 12 4 in  (31 5 cm)   32 weeks 3 lbs  12 oz              (1 7 kg) 16 5 in  (42 cm) 11 4 in  (29 cm)   28 weeks 2 lbs  3 3 oz              (1 0 kg) 14 1 in  (36 cm) 9 8 in  (25 cm)   24 weeks 1 lb  5 2 oz              (0 60 kg) 12 6 in  (32 cm) 8 3 in  (21 cm)    gestational age weight length head circumference  gestational age weight length head circumference  40 weeks 7 lbs  7 9 oz              (3 4 kg) 20 in  (51 cm) 13 8 in  (35 cm)  40 weeks 7 lbs  7 9 oz              (3 4 kg)  20 in  (51 cm) 13 8 in  (35 cm)  35 weeks 5 lbs  4 7 oz              (2 4 kg) 17 7 in  (45 cm) 12 4 in  (31 5 cm)  35 weeks 5 lbs  4 7 oz              (2 4 kg)  17 7 in  (45 cm) 12 4 in  (31 5 cm)  32 weeks 3 lbs  12 oz              (1 7 kg) 16 5 in  (42 cm) 11 4 in  (29 cm)  32 weeks 3 lbs  12 oz              (1 7 kg)  16 5 in  (42 cm) 11 4 in  (29 cm)  28 weeks 2 lbs  3 3 oz              (1 0 kg) 14 1 in  (36 cm) 9 8 in  (25 cm)  28 weeks 2 lbs  3 3 oz              (1 0 kg)  14 1 in  (36 cm) 9 8 in  (25 cm)  24 weeks 1 lb  5 2 oz              (0 60 kg) 12 6 in  (32 cm) 8 3 in  (21 cm)  24 weeks 1 lb  5 2 oz              (0 60 kg)  12 6 in  (32 cm) 8 3 in  (21 cm) special care give birth preterm baby  baby will likely need stay special nursery unit hospital  infants need spend time unit cares closely tracks health day night  called neonatal intensive care unit (nicu)  step down nicu intermediate care nursery  intensive care  special nursery units staffed health care providers team that's trained help preterm babies  nicu baby may need extra help feeding adapting right delivery  health care team can help understand what's needed baby's care plan will be  feel free ask questions
premature birth