preemies
Born too soon
Preemies are babies born prematurely—before the normal full term of pregnancy.
The word is informal and affectionate, used by parents and medical staff alike: The NICU was full of preemies.
Singular: preemie.
Medical support for newborns
- isoletteEnclosed neonatal warming unit
- incubatorControlled warming enclosure
- ventilatorMechanical breathing apparatus
- feeding tubeDevice delivering nutrition internally
phototherapy · bilirubin · kangaroo care · vital signs · thermoregulation · oxygen · humidity · monitoring
Easily broken or damaged
- delicateEasily broken or harmed
- underdevelopedInsufficiently grown or advanced
- susceptibleEasily influenced or harmed
- sensitiveEasily affected emotionally
tiny · underweight · defenseless · at-risk · compromised · respiratory distress · jaundice · infection risk
Before expected arrival
- gestationCarrying offspring in womb
- early arrivalComing before expected
- deliveryConveyance of goods
- newbornInfant just delivered
infant · gestational age · viability · labor · maternity · obstetrics · perinatology · antenatal
Capacity to recover quickly
- fighterOne who engages in combat
- thrivingSucceeding vigorously
- growthIncrease in size
- milestoneNotable event marking progress
strength · recovery · progress · prognosis · stability · weight gain · discharge · homecoming
Mother and father
- bondingForming close connections
- skin-to-skinUnclothed bodily touching
- pumpingForcing flow mechanically
- breast milkMammary secretion for infants
donor milk · bedside vigil · emotional support · palliative care · siblings · support groups · March of Dimes · hope
neonatal intensive care
Medical support for newborns
- isoletteEnclosed neonatal warming unit
- incubatorControlled warming enclosure
- ventilatorMechanical breathing apparatus
feeding tube · phototherapy · bilirubin · kangaroo care · vital signs · thermoregulation · oxygen · humidity · monitoring · neonatologist
fragile
Easily broken or damaged
- delicateEasily broken or harmed
- underdevelopedInsufficiently grown or advanced
- susceptibleEasily influenced or harmed
sensitive · tiny · underweight · defenseless · at-risk · compromised · respiratory distress · jaundice · infection risk · feeding difficulties
preterm
Before expected arrival
- gestationCarrying offspring in womb
- early arrivalComing before expected
- deliveryConveyance of goods
newborn · infant · gestational age · viability · labor · maternity · obstetrics · perinatology · antenatal · prenatal
resilience
Capacity to recover quickly
milestone · strength · recovery · progress · prognosis · stability · weight gain · discharge · homecoming · graduation
parents
Mother and father
- bondingForming close connections
- skin-to-skinUnclothed bodily touching
- pumpingForcing flow mechanically
breast milk · donor milk · bedside vigil · emotional support · palliative care · siblings · support groups · March of Dimes · hope · advocacy
- babycarebaby bottles, diapers, pacifiers, cribs, strollers
- neonatal lungsrespiratory distress, surfactant, preterm birth, NICU, surfactant therapy
- NICUincubators, neonatologists, warmers, kangaroo care, phototherapy
- Immune WeaknessHIV, AIDS, chemotherapy, immunosuppressants, leukemia