This paper reviews ways to help the lungs grow in babies born early, like giving mothers steroids before birth, using gentle breathing support after birth, and trying new treatments such as stem cells and the peptide IGF‑1. While IGF‑1 looks promising in experiments, it’s still far from being a safe, proven option for everyday use, especially for adults looking to boost health or performance.

Preterm birth, affecting approximately 10 % of live births worldwide, is the most common cause of altered lung development and can have lasting respiratory consequences, including the occurrence of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). This review summarizes prenatal and postnatal strategies to promote pulmonary growth and reduce morbidity in preterm infants. Prenatal interventions such as optimizing maternal health and antenatal corticosteroids improve foetal lung maturity. Postnatally, non-invasive respiratory support-particularly continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP)-both prevents injury and promotes alveolar and vascular growth. Lung-protective ventilation strategies, adequate nutrition, and pharmacologic agents like caffeine enhance outcomes. Experimental therapies, including mesenchymal stem cells, insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), and artificial placenta technology, show promise in restoring pulmonary growth and function. Despite advances, many preterm survivors exhibit persistent lung deficits into adulthood, underscoring the need for longitudinal monitoring and continued innovation to support lung growth and lifelong respiratory health.