A full-term pregnancy is defined as lasting between 39 weeks, 0 days and 40 weeks, 6 days. Most babies are born near the end of the 40th week of pregnancy. Babies who are born full term are more likely to be healthy compared with babies born before or after a full-term pregnancy.

A preterm (sometimes called premature) birth is a birth that occurs before 37 full weeks of pregnancy. Every year, more than 13 million babies across the globe are born preterm, increasing their risk for serious health problems, lifelong disabilities, and even death.

World Prematurity Day is November 17, making this month a great time to raise awareness about preterm birth, prevention strategies, and how to make a healthier birth possible for every baby. At Childbirth Graphics, our focus is on nurturing healthy babies and growing healthy families by providing the best pregnancy and newborn care educational resources available to equip expectant and new parents with the tools they need to help ensure healthier pregnancies and newborns.

One out of every 10 babies around the world as well as in the United States is born preterm. Preterm births are divided into four categories:

• Extremely preterm (born before 28 weeks of pregnancy)

• Very preterm (born between 28 and 32 weeks of pregnancy)

• Moderately preterm (born between 32 and 34 weeks of pregnancy)

• Late preterm (born between 34 and 36 weeks of pregnancy)

Babies born prior to 32 weeks are at higher risk for death and disability. Complications of preterm birth are the leading cause of death among children under the age of 5.

Our Timeline of Pregnancy Chart is a great way to show how important every day and every week counts during pregnancy. The chart highlights how a fetus grows throughout pregnancy, including the facts that babies born prior to 37 full weeks of pregnancy are preterm and an estimated due date is 40 weeks.

Not all babies who are born preterm will have health complications. Generally, the earlier a baby is born and the lower the birthweight, the greater the likelihood of health problems. Health issues may be short- or long-term. Complications associated with preterm birth include breathing problems, anemia, increased vulnerability to infection, bleeding in the brain (sometimes resulting in intellectual disabilities and cerebral palsy), heart issues, intestinal problems, and problems with hearing or vision.

Preterm infants are also at higher risk for jaundice, a yellowish discoloration of the skin and eyes. Preterm babies may develop jaundice because their immature livers can’t remove a waste product called bilirubin from the blood. High bilirubin levels can cause brain damage. Our Newborn Jaundice Tear Pad is an ideal resource to help parents know what jaundice is and how it can be treated.

Preterm labor resulting in a preterm birth can happen to any pregnant woman at any time. Often, there is no known cause. Women who are expecting multiples, who have already had a preterm baby, or who have issues with their uterus or cervix are at higher risks. Other risk factors may include untreated infections, high blood pressure, diabetes that is not well-controlled, lifestyle factors (such as tobacco and nicotine use, substance abuse, or stress), and being overweight or underweight before pregnancy.

Our Prenatal Care Activity Box is a fun educational activity to help pregnant moms understand safety concerns during pregnancy. Perfect to use with individuals or in prenatal classes, the box features 12 items (such as a facsimile beer bottle, cigarette, and stress-measuring card) to highlight the importance of avoiding or limiting certain substances or activities while pregnant to help ensure a healthy baby.

Most preterm babies are born late preterm, between 34 and 37 completed weeks of pregnancy. Late preterm babies often look healthy and may even weigh as much as full-term babies. However, these infants are still preterm babies with immature organs and body systems. They may have more difficulties adapting to life outside the womb than full-term babies. Late-preterm babies also are at increased risk for potentially serious health problems, such as breathing issues, feeding issues, difficulty regulating body temperature, and increased risk of jaundice and infections.

Late-preterm babies are at greater risk for sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) than full-term babies. Our Reducing the Risk of SIDS Tear Pad explains what SIDS is and helps parents create a safe-sleep environment for babies.

Skin-to-skin care (sometimes called kangaroo care) is beneficial for all babies, but it offers special benefits for preterm babies. Skin-to-skin care is one of the best ways to help a baby in a NICU grow stronger and healthier. For preterm babies worldwide, kangaroo mother care (which incorporates prolonged skin-to-skin care, exclusive breastfeeding, and early hospital discharge with support and follow-up) is credited as an effective way to reduce the risk of death for preterm and low-birthweight babies.

Our Skin-to-Skin Care Tear Pad explains what skin-to-skin care is, its many benefits for babies and their parents, how to provide skin-to-skin care, and when to start skin-to-skin care. It’s a helpful, comforting handout for new parents of both full-term and preterm infants.