In this five-part series, you will be able to read about premature babies and the neonatal unit.

The brain continues to develop and an insulating layer of fat is now forming around the nerve cells, allowing brain impulses to travel faster. This development continues and accelerates around the time the baby should have been born. Brain development activity is irregular but now occurs in cycles during the time the baby sleeps in the dream state. Dream sleep is important for the development of the child's senses, while deep sleep is important for learning. When the child is asleep, rapid eye movements can often be seen under the closed eyelids. The child mainly notices low-frequency sounds and can distinguish whether a male or female voice is speaking. The eyes are still immature and cannot fully regulate the incoming light to the retina. Taste-wise, the child can distinguish between sweet and sour tastes. Motorically, the child's movement patterns are still jerky and reflexive. To try to comfort himself/herself, the child tries to bring his/her hand close to his/her mouth, suck on a pacifier or try to grasp something.

The lungs are still immature and need some form of respiratory support to breathe deeply and effectively. During these weeks, respiratory support in the form of a CPAP, where the baby breathes against air resistance to help open up the air sacs to make breathing more efficient, is often sufficient. The child may still have difficulty regulating their heart rate and breathing.