BACKGROUND: Neonatal medicine has advanced significantly over the past few decades, leading to improved survival rates for infants born extremely preterm (EP). Being born extremely preterm increases the risk of various long-term health issues and impairments that may affect an individual's well-being and success in life. As these individuals now reach adulthood, we have limited knowledge of outcomes based on their personal experiences. AIMS: To explore how adults born EP perceive the impact of prematurity throughout their lives into adulthood. STUDY DESIGN: A qualitative study design within an interpretive paradigm. METHODS: We conducted 11 in-depth interviews with individuals who were born EP (gestational age ≤ 28 weeks) in 1989 to 1990, when they were 33 years old. A semi-structured interview guide was applied asking about if and how being born EP had affected their life and how they had experienced the transition to adulthood. The data were analysed by using reflexive thematic analyse by Braun & Clarke. RESULTS: Five themes were generated through the analysis: gratitude for life, general vulnerability, adaptability, strong bonding to significant others and nurturance. CONCLUSIONS: The overall impression of the stories shared by adults born EP is that, despite having faced significant physical, mental, social and educational challenges, they seem to have managed well. Through personal resilience and the support of key figures in their lives, they have been able to navigate these difficulties. However, these challenges warrant attention.