Question: When will my premature baby come home?
Answer: Premature babies are those that are born prior to 37 weeks gestational age. Part of how soon your baby is ready to come home depends on the number of weeks of gestation that were completed. The further along you were in your pregnancy - the sooner your baby will come home, typically.
The rule of thumb in when to expect your baby is generally around your due date. That means if your baby was born at the 28th week of pregnancy, you can expect about a 12 week stay in the hospital. Obviously some babies do really well and come home more quickly, while others require longer treatments.
Your baby may require special treatments in the neonatal intensive care (NICU) or in another level of care. What level of care your baby needs will play a factor in how soon he or she is released. Some treatments are ones that can be done at home. Be sure to ask your baby's doctor about what treatments you might be able to handle at home.
1/1/06
