Is IVF baby premature at 34 weeks?
Test tube baby refers to the baby developed by in vitro fertilization technology, combining sperm and eggs in the laboratory, cultivating them into embryos, and then implanting the embryos into the mother's uterus. Because the IVF pregnancy process is not natural, it often causes some questions about pregnancy. In general, the gestation period of normal pregnant women is 40 weeks. So, is IVF premature at 34 weeks? Next, we will elaborate on pregnancy, infant development, medical standards and actual conditions.
Pregnancy
The pregnancy period of IVF is the same as that of natural pregnancy, generally 40 weeks. 34 weeks is the early stage of pregnancy, which is still the stage of premature delivery. Preterm delivery refers to the birth of a child who is less than 37 weeks pregnant. At this stage, the lungs, digestive tract, central nervous system and other organs of the fetus may still not be fully developed and mature, which requires additional medical support and observation.
The risks of premature delivery include dyspnea, thermoregulation difficulties, infection, etc. Therefore, 34 week old IVF babies generally need to be closely monitored and treated in the neonatal intensive care unit to ensure the stability of their physical functions and normal development.
Infant development
The physiological and behavioral performance of IVF babies born at 34 weeks may be different from that of term infants. Due to incomplete organ development, infants may need auxiliary ventilation, intravenous nutrition and other support. In addition, their skin is thin and not completely covered with fat, so they are prone to temperature control problems.
At this time, the baby may not have completed the basic feeding skills such as sucking, chewing and swallowing, and needs to be fed through the stomach tube. The crying of infants is not as loud as that of full-term infants, and they need more attention and care.
However, over time, the 34 week old IVF baby will gradually catch up with the full-term baby and be able to breathe and eat autonomously.
Medical standards
It is generally recognized in the medical community that preterm birth refers to the birth of a child whose pregnancy is less than 37 weeks. Therefore, the birth of a test tube baby at 34 weeks is also considered preterm birth. According to the standards of the American Academy of Pediatrics, preterm labor is divided into extreme preterm labor (less than 28 weeks of pregnancy), extreme preterm labor (28-32 weeks of pregnancy), and preterm labor (32-37 weeks of pregnancy).
No matter what kind of extremely preterm birth classification, doctors will take appropriate treatment and monitoring measures to ensure the life safety and healthy development of infants.
Actual situation
It is worth noting that the definition and treatment of preterm birth may be different in different hospitals and regions. In some special cases, IVF babies even born at 34 weeks may be regarded as term infants, for example, because of pregnancy complications of the mother or fetal development abnormalities. However, this judgment often needs to be comprehensively evaluated by doctors according to specific situations.
In reality, there may be grey areas in the definition of birth time, which should be determined according to the specific situation. No matter whether it is premature or not at birth, the health and development of IVF need the continuous attention and proper care of doctors.
summary
IVF babies born at 34 weeks are premature, so additional medical support and observation are needed to ensure the normal development of their physical functions. Although infants may have some physiological and behavioral immaturity in the preterm stage, their development will gradually become normal over time. The medical profession generally defines preterm delivery as less than 37 weeks of pregnancy. The definition and treatment of preterm delivery may vary from hospital to hospital and from region to region, which needs to be evaluated according to the specific situation. No matter what the situation, the health and development of IVF needs the continuous attention and proper care of doctors.
