Neonatology is the medical specialty of taking care of newborn babies. In most cases, a baby is born after a pregnancy of 37-42 weeks. By then, the foetus is mature, well developed and ready for life outside the womb. After all, the womb is the best place for an unborn child to grow. The longer the baby can stay there, the better. However, this situation should neither harm the mother nor the child.
Sometimes children are born before the 37th week of pregnancy. This is called preterm or premature birth and a premature baby. An early childbirth with a pregnancy duration of less than 32 weeks is called severe prematurity. When the pregnancy lasts less than 28 weeks it is called extreme prematurity.
After a premature baby is born, it is often transferred to an incubator since the baby is not ready for life outside of the womb. In the incubator, an attempt is made to imitate the womb's surroundings. For example, the temperature and humidity can be set. This is important as different organs, including the lungs, have not yet fully developed.
Chiesi has been devoted to the care of newborns for decades. Chiesi works with caregivers and researchers from more than 80 countries to improve care for premature born babies. Thanks to these important relationships, Chiesi is a global partner for neonatologists.
