Premature birth: causes, care and the way home
Elisabeth Tscherry
July 7, 2025
6 min
When a baby is born prematurely, it is often a challenging time for both parents and child. At our hospital, which has a specialised neonatology clinic, we support families from the very first moment - from a medical, nursing and emotional perspective. In this blog post, you will receive a well-founded overview of the topic of premature birth - understandable, practical and based on the experience of our interdisciplinary team.
Good to know
Premature babies are newborns who are born before the 37th week of pregnancy. At the Neonatology Clinic at Zollikerberg Hospital, we care for premature babies from 32 weeks' gestation immediately after birth. In addition, we can also care for newborns born earlier in other clinics, as well as children with special medical care needs.
What is a premature birth? Definition and categorisation
A pregnancy usually lasts around 40 weeks. If a baby is born before the end of the 36th week of pregnancy, i.e. under the 37th week, we speak medically of a premature birth. Premature babies are children who are born well before their due date and are therefore not yet fully developed - their lungs, brain and immune system in particular are often still immature.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) classifies premature births as follows:
The earlier a child is born, the higher the risk of health complications such as breathing problems, infections or developmental delays, to name but a few. On the other hand, the chances of survival and long-term developmental prospects improve significantly as the week of pregnancy increases. A premature birth therefore does not necessarily mean a poor prognosis - especially not if the child receives early and individualised medical care.
Thanks to modern neonatology, even very small premature babies with a birth weight of less than 1,500 grams can be successfully treated today. Interdisciplinary care is provided by specialised doctors, nurses and therapists - always in close cooperation with the parents. The continuous involvement of the parents also plays a decisive role in building a relationship between parents and child, as well as for the child's development.
How common are premature births in Switzerland and what are the chances of survival?
Around six to eight per cent of all births in Switzerland are premature - this corresponds to several thousand newborns per year. Thanks to highly developed medical care and specialisation in the field of neonatology, survival rates have improved significantly in recent decades. Today, there is a good chance of survival from the 24th to 25th week of pregnancy with appropriate intensive medical care. Nevertheless, the development of a premature baby remains individual. Factors such as pregnancy, birth weight, the baby's gender, possible complications during the course of the pregnancy and aftercare all play a key role. Tables on the probability of survival can provide parents with initial guidance, but are no substitute for individual medical assessment and support.
In specialised centres such as our neonatology clinic, every premature baby is cared for according to the latest standards - with the aim of giving them the best possible start in life.
When can a baby come too early? Possible causes of a premature birth
Premature births can have many causes. The most common medically recognised risk factors include
- Multiple pregnancies
- Infections such as urinary tract infections, amniotic cystitis, vaginal infections, gingivitis or inflammation of the membranes (amnionitis)
- Pre-existing conditions of the mother, for example diabetes mellitus, chronic high blood pressure or thyroid disease
- Malformations or growth disorders of the child
- Anatomical abnormalities of the uterus or placental disorders such as placenta previa
- Psychosocial stress, stress, smoking, drug use, etc.
- Medical history of the mother such as previous premature births, artificial insemination or operations on the uterus
Important: Early warning signs such as pulling pains in the lower abdomen, back pain, bleeding or premature rupture of the membranes should always be clarified medically. If in doubt, it is better to go for a check-up once too often.
Important: Early warning signs such as pulling pains in the lower abdomen, back pain, bleeding or premature rupture of the membranes should always be checked by a doctor. If in doubt, it is better to go for a check-up once too often.
Development and special care for premature babies
Premature babies require specialised care that is individually tailored to their needs. Paediatricians with specialist training for newborns, known as neonatologists, are available around the clock in our neonatology department. In addition, our interdisciplinary team is made up of specialised nurses and physiotherapists to provide the best possible support for each child.
The central goals of our premature baby care are
- Individualised care: We promote close parental bonding as early as possible using the kangaroo method (skin-to-skin contact), ensure breastfeeding assistance and support the child's independent care. This measure strengthens the parent-child bond in the sense of family-centred care and promotes the baby's development.
- Reference care: Continuity of the assigned doctors and carers creates trust and security for the child and the family
- Stabilisation of body temperature: Some premature babies are not yet able to regulate their own body temperature. Special heated beds or incubators are used to maintain an optimum temperature in order to minimise energy consumption.
- Nutrition: Breast milk is the preferred source of nutrition as it contains important immune substances. It is often administered as a supplement via a feeding tube until the child can drink safely on its own. If necessary, we also provide support with parenteral (intravenous) nutrition.
- Promotion of physiological movement and posture: targeted positioning techniques and kinaesthetic principles are used to promote motor development and prevent poor muscular posture.
- Music therapy: find peace with gentle sounds and strengthen the bond between parent and child
- Pain management
Parent-child relationship and bonding
The emotional bond between parent and child does not just begin at home - it is formed in the first days of life, even in neonatology. This contact is particularly important for premature babies: studies show that familiar voices, physical closeness and shared rituals reduce the child's stress levels, support neurological development and strengthen the parent-child relationship in the long term.
We create the best possible conditions for this in our neonatology department. Thanks to the close proximity of the building department and the neonatology ward, mothers can visit their child in bed immediately after birth. Located next door to each other, this direct access enables early closeness - without any hurdles.
We encourage skin-to-skin contact between you and your baby immediately after birth using the tried-and-tested kangaroo method, provided the child's state of health allows it. This involves your baby lying on your bare chest or on the father's chest. This intensive closeness positively supports breathing, temperature regulation and bonding behaviour and gives you as parents the confidence to actively accompany your child right from the start.
We also gradually involve you in the day-to-day care of your child: Changing nappies, feeding, holding - with the support of our team, you will increasingly take on tasks. In this way, a trusting relationship develops step by step, which strengthens the parents' self-confidence and gives the child orientation - even in a medicalised environment and for the time at home.
We are always happy to help our premature babies and their families!
A premature birth presents families with major challenges - but it is also the start of a strong journey together. Thanks to modern medicine, specialised care and empathetic support, premature babies can now receive the best possible care and individual support. With lots of closeness, patience and expert support, many of these little fighters develop very positively - often beyond all expectations. We are at your side from the very beginning: competent, interdisciplinary and around the clock, 365 days a year.
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