How long does a premature baby weighing 5 catties at 35 weeks need to stay in an incubator?

A premature baby born at 35 weeks weighing 5 catties (approximately 2.5 kg) typically stays in an incubator for 3 to 7 days, depending on the specific circumstances.

1. Around 3 days

When a premature baby born at 35 weeks and weighing 5 catties has poor organ function at birth, special care is usually required. Therefore, the baby needs to remain in the incubator for a period of observation to detect any abnormalities. If the baby shows no abnormal head circumference—neither below nor above the normal range—and displays no other complications, this generally indicates good physical condition. In such cases, observation in the incubator may last about 3 days, after which the baby can be removed if no abnormalities are detected.

2. Around 7 days

If a premature baby born at 35 weeks weighing 5 catties presents with abnormal head circumference, high body temperature, rapid breathing, or signs of bleeding of varying severity after birth, it becomes necessary to keep the infant in the incubator under sterile conditions. This helps protect the baby from environmental stimuli that could cause further harm. The baby may need to stay in the incubator for approximately 7 days, until body temperature and all other vital signs stabilize and return to normal levels before being discharged from the incubator.