Yes, a baby born at 33 weeks can go home, but they almost always need time in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) for specialized care because their organs aren't fully developed; discharge happens when they can breathe on their own, regulate temperature, feed well, and gain weight steadily, often around their original due date.
Any preemie that's born earlier than 34 weeks gestation should spend several weeks in the NICU. On average, doctors recommend preemies stay in the NICU until three to four weeks before what their regular due date would have been.
Do babies born at 33 weeks have to stay in the NICU? Yes, it's most likely that your moderately preterm baby will need a period of specialist care in a NICU setting. Their immune system is immature, so staying in a safe environment like an incubator (which will also help them keep warm) is a great start.
Preterm babies born between 31 and 34 weeks gestation have a greater than 95% chance of survival. Preterm babies have a better chance of surviving if they are cared for in a specialized nursery.
Autism, intellectual disabilities, cerebral palsy, lung problems, and vision and hearing loss are some of the long-term health complications that premature babies can have. Regarding prematurity, Dr. Alberto Sirven, Medical Director of the West Kendall OB/GYN Program and Women and Infant Credentials Committee Chairman.
After 33 weeks of pregnancy, your baby's brain and nervous system are fully developed. Their bones are continuing to harden. Skull bones stay soft and separated until after the birth to make the journey through the birth canal easier.
Babies born prematurely at 33 to 34 weeks are referred to as "moderate preterm infants." Weighing between 1800–2200g and measuring nearly 50cm in length at birth, these babies are close in size to full-term infants.
Fetal development 37 weeks after conception
By the 39th week of pregnancy, or 37 weeks after conception, your baby is considered full term.
Healthcare providers classify stillbirths based on the number of weeks of pregnancy before the fetus passes. Early stillbirth: The fetus dies between 20 and 27 weeks. Late stillbirth: The fetus dies between 28 and 36 weeks. Term stillbirth: The fetus dies the 37th week or after.
Fortunately, modern science has greatly improved the survival rate of babies born at 33 weeks. Babies born at this stage have a 95 percent chance of survival. On average, babies born at 33 weeks weigh around 3 pounds and 15.5 ounces (1.8 kilograms). They are typically around 16.5 inches (42 centimeters) long.
Tocolytic Agents
If you are showing signs of preterm labor and are less than 34 weeks pregnant, your doctor may administer a tocolytic medication to suppress labor and give your baby's lungs more time to mature. Tocolytics can reduce contractions, thereby delaying labor, for up to several days.
Of all babies: About 8 percent are born between 34 and 36 weeks of gestation (the time from conception to birth) About 1.5 percent are born between 32 and 33 weeks of gestation. About 2 percent are born under 32 weeks of gestation.
But if NICU babies can't breastfeed in their early days due to medical needs, learning to feed later can be even more difficult. Every baby is different, but many premature babies begin oral feeding between 32 and 34 weeks' gestation. Your care team will guide you based on your baby's readiness.
Moderate to late preterm babies (born at gestational age of 32 to 36 weeks) who have no significant medical problems on admission are likely to be discharged at 36 weeks of postmenstrual age (gestational age plus age since birth), according to a study published in the American Journal of Perinatology.
When do premature babies catch up, and how can you tell? Since preemies start smaller, they need to grow faster than usual to become the same size as a full-term baby. This is called "catch-up growth." Many preemies will catch up on their growth by about 12 to 18 months of age.
If you're 33 weeks pregnant, you're in month 8 of your pregnancy. Only 1 month left to go!
Your baby, or foetus, is around 43.7cm long from head to heel. That's approximately the size of a pineapple. Your baby's brain and nervous system are now fully developed. The bones are hardening up, apart from the skull bones, which will stay soft and separated until the baby's around 12 to 18 months old.
Your pregnancy symptoms in week 33
Avoid caffeine, which is found in coffee, tea, chocolate and some fizzy drinks. You can check your caffeine intake with our caffeine calculator. Worrying about sleep problems can make it worse, but it's very hard not to think about them.
Pregnancy Week 33: How big is your baby? Your baby is approximately 16 ½ inches (42 cm) long and weighs between 4 ½ to 5 pounds (2 to 2.3 kg). Because growth can vary for each baby during this time, your baby may be a little off from these measurements, which in most cases is completely normal.
Babies born before 37 weeks are premature. A premature birth is more likely to happen when a mother has a health problem — like diabetes — or does harmful things during her pregnancy, like smoke or drink.
Signs of Fetal Distress
In many cases, healthcare providers use an adjusted growth chart until a former preemie is at least 2 years of age. A small number of preemies never fully catch up and remain slightly smaller than average throughout their life.
In the first weeks, the complications of premature birth may include: