Disease: Premature Birth
Symptoms: 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

40 weeks 7 lbs., 15 oz.

35 weeks 5 lbs., 8 oz.

32 weeks 3 lbs., 15.5 oz.

28 weeks 2 lbs., 6.8 oz.

24 weeks 1 lb., 6.9 oz.

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.

(2.5 kg) 18.1 in. (46 cm) 12.6 in. (32 cm)  35 weeks 5 lbs., 8 oz.

(1.8 kg) 16.5 in. (42 cm) 11.6 in. (29.5 cm)  32 weeks 3 lbs., 15.5 oz.

(1.1 kg) 14.4 in. (36.5 cm) 10.2 in. (26 cm)  28 weeks 2 lbs., 6.8 oz.

(0.65 kg) 12.2 in. (31 cm) 8.7 in. (22 cm)  24 weeks 1 lb., 6.9 oz.

Weight, length and head circumference by gestational age for girls

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

40 weeks 7 lbs., 7.9 oz.

35 weeks 5 lbs., 4.7 oz.

32 weeks 3 lbs., 12 oz.

28 weeks 2 lbs., 3.3 oz.

24 weeks 1 lb., 5.2 oz.

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.

(2.4 kg) 17.7 in. (45 cm) 12.4 in. (31.5 cm)  35 weeks 5 lbs., 4.7 oz.

(1.7 kg) 16.5 in. (42 cm) 11.4 in. (29 cm)  32 weeks 3 lbs., 12 oz.

(1.0 kg) 14.1 in. (36 cm) 9.8 in. (25 cm)  28 weeks 2 lbs., 3.3 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.