Yes, 34 weeks is premature.

I think 38 weeks and beyond is not considered premature. 40 weeks is full-term.

I'm sending hugs to Marcus, you, and your family, TrishaLynn. Medical science is amazing. Your baby cousin will probably be just fine.

Yes, it's a little premature, but babies who make it to 33-34 weeks of gestation generally have lower risks of complications that babies born earlier. My middle nephew was born around 35 weeks, and had some respiratory issues that kept him in the hospital for a few weeks after he was born, but he recovered completely and nearly 6 years later he's right as rain.

Good wishes to all your family. (And Lori is exactly right -- medical technology is amazing on this score, and he'll probably be fine!)

My second sentence is kind of wonky. 38 weeks and over is full-term.

What Lori said. Preemie land but not too preemie. Little Marcus is probably in good hands and with a bit of time you won't even know that he turned up a bit early.

Just chiming in to agree with everyone above. My first son was born at 36 weeks, too early to let me have one of those birthing suites that was all the new rage (it was 15 years ago), but he came home with me two days later. And 5 pounds plus isn't a bad size for a 34 week kid. My son was 6lbs 13ozs and the doctor said if he'd "stayed in" he'd have been over 8 pounds, so tell your cousin that her son may have done her a favor. Anyway, congratulations!

My oldest niece was born at 30 weeks, just over 2lbs. She was so tiny, was in the hospital for months. She has problems with her legs still, but otherwise she's a normal 15-year-old that needs the snot beaten out of her once in a while.

Anything over 5 pounds is robust. I wish you well Marcus Romulus!

For what it's worth, I myself was as early as Marcus Romulus and even smaller. I'm short but strong and ridiculously healthy.

Thinking of the little guy. Love his name.

I'm totally digging his second name, myself. I believe the parents stuck with Filipino tradition and named him after the saint whose day is on his birthday. I do hope (probably against hope) that if they have another son in the future that one of his middle names will be Remus. ^_^