Premature babies

Some premature babies who are very young or very sick are fed through an intravenous (or IV) line, which is known as " total parenteral nutrition " (TPN). Total parenteral nutrition contains a special mix of nutrients, such as proteins, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins and minerals.

Under normal conditions, a pregnancy lasts 40 weeks, but the baby is considered mature enough to adapt to the environment outside the womb from the 37th week of gestation. That is why all babies born before 37 weeks of gestation are considered premature.