Pregnancy is an overwhelming experience by itself, and giving birth early takes its toll on the mother and the baby. Yet, it’s not an unlikely occurrence. 

Studies reveal that 11% of babies are born prematurely-that is, they’re born three weeks or more before their estimated due date. Another definition for premature babies is that they’re babies born before the 37th week of the woman’s pregnancy. 

Premature babies need to stay in the NICU, where their vitals are monitored and they receive help according to their health condition. As a mother, it’s normal for you to worry about your newborn and think about how long it’ll stay in the NICU. 

Getting proper knowledge about your baby’s condition and possible outcomes can help you navigate through these stressful times. We’ll be trying to respond to some of your concerns here. 

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It varies. We know this is not the answer you’re looking for, but that’s the truth.

The time your premature baby will spend in NICU depends on its health condition, weight, and gestational age; that is how long it’s stayed in its mother’s womb.

There’s a classification for premature babies, or preemies, according to their gestational age. This classification is a strong indicator of how long they’ll stay in the NICU.

Late Preterm - (34 to 36 Weeks of Pregnancy) 

Late preemies have high chances of survival, given they’ve spent long times in their mothers’ wombs. These babies are about 20 inches long and weigh somewhere between 5.5 and 6 pounds. This is good news, given that low birth weight babies are defined to be those who weigh less than 5 pounds, 8 ounces.

Late preemies look like full-term babies, but they’re still premature. 

They’re not ready for breast or bottle feeding. 

These babies need some help breathing for a few days. Sometimes, they’ll also need some gavage feeding until they’re able to feed naturally. Late preemies can stay anywhere from a few days to a few weeks in the NICU, according to their health checks. If all is good with breathing and feeding, then they’re clear to leave the NICU. 

Moderate Preterm - (32 to 34 Weeks of Pregnancy) 

Moderate Preemies who’re born between 32 to 34 weeks of pregnancy also have great survival odds. They’re not so different from late preemies in terms of the type of care they require in the NICU and the time they spend there on average.

Born at 32 weeks, these premature babies needed about four more weeks to develop fully. Yet, they’re born nearly fully developed, only lower than the expected height and weight; somewhere between 16 to 18 inches in height and 3.5 to 4 pounds of weight.

As long as they’re above 3 pounds, they’re just at low birth weight. They haven't reached the point of very low birth weight yet, which is good news.

They need to develop more body fat to reach a good temperature.

They might not be able to feed on their own.

They require care similar to late preemies. The goal is for them to reach three milestones, breathe, eat, and stay warm on their own. When that’s accomplished, they leave the NICU.

They usually stay at the NICU for one to three weeks.

Very Preterm (28 to 32 Weeks of Pregnancy)

This is a tricky category, where babies born at 30 to 32 weeks have high survival rates close to 99% and a very low risk of health complications later on.

As for babies born between 28 to 30 weeks, their condition is a bit more challenging than those who’ve safely made the 32-week mark. Their weight averages at 3 pounds, and they’re about 16 inches high. 

Then comes those born at 27 to 28 weeks. That’s where the mark of ‘very premature babies’ starts. These babies weigh around 2.5 pounds, making them fall under the category of very low birth weight.

They need external feeding through tubes.

At this point, preemies will probably need the help of a ventilator to breathe and gavage feeding through a tube till their stomachs fully develop.

Very preterm babies usually stay at the NICU for a couple of weeks before their original due date. In the worst cases, they’ll stay until their estimated due date.

Extremely Preterm (Less than 28 Weeks of Pregnancy)

Extreme preemies is an umbrella term for premature babies who are born after less than 28 weeks of pregnancy. Every extra day in the womb matters, which is why the survival rates of extreme preemies highly depend on how much time they spent in their mother’s wombs.

Babies born at 25 weeks have 75% survival rates. It’s those who are born before 25 weeks that are usually in a critical condition. These are called ‘micro-preemies.’

Alveoli in the lungs won’t be developed before 26 weeks

Extreme preemies feed through Intravenous fluids (IVs) because their feeding mechanisms (sucking and swallowing) aren’t developed yet. 

The time extreme preemies spend in the NICU depends on their health condition. If they don’t have serious complications, they’ll probably leave the NICU two to three weeks before their estimated due date. 

However, if they have other health complications, their stay in the NICU might extend to a couple of weeks after their due date.

How Long Do Premature Babies Stay in NICU?

Giving birth to premature babies is a stressful experience, but you’re not alone in that. Medical care has advanced drastically in that it deals with the most severe cases. Remember that no matter your preemie’s age, we’re waiting for it to breathe, eat, and keep its body temperature on its own for it to be cleared from the NICU and go home with you! 

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