Premature babies, particularly those born before 37 weeks in the womb or those
who are very small, need extra help to survive outside the protective environment
of their mother's womb. Some parts of their bodies have not had time to fully
develop, and so they may have special needs.
Premature babies often have difficulties breathing, feeding, and controlling
their internal body temperature:
- Temperature: Placing babies in an incubator, or hot-cot, will maintain
their temperature.
- Breathing: Preemies may have breathing problems because their lungs
are not fully developed. Babies with breathing problems often need to receive extra oxygen. Using an oxygen hood, a ventilator or respirator, and continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) are ways of ensuring the baby receives enough oxygen.
- Feeding: Very tiny premature babies cannot suck, swallow, and breathe
well enough in the beginning to meet their needs. Many of them would use more
energy trying to suck and swallow than they would get from the milk. This is
why your baby's first calories will be given through an intravenous line (also
called an IV line) or a fine tube through the nose or mouth into the stomach
(also called a feeding tube).
Because of these special needs, many preemies may need to be admitted to a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).
All material copyright MediResource Inc. 1996 – 2024. Terms and conditions of use. The contents herein are for informational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Source: www.medbroadcast.com/healthfeature/gethealthfeature/Caring-for-Your-Preemie
Most premature babies have special health problems. Here are some of the conditions your baby may experience:
Breathing
- Respiratory distress syndrome (RDS): difficulty breathing caused by a lack of surfactant, a substance that normally prevents the lungs from collapsing
- Apnea and bradycardia: apnea is any pause in breathing that lasts more than 20 seconds, and bradycardia is a slow heart rate
- Transient tachypnea of the newborn (TTNB): fast breathing that occurs in the first few hours or days after birth and then goes away
- Chronic lung disease or bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD): rapid or shallow breathing, wheezing, and crackling sound in the lungs that can last even after the baby goes home
- Pneumonia: infection that causes inflammation of the air sacs of the lungs that can interfere with the lungs' ability to transfer oxygen to the blood.
Heart and blood pressure
- Patent ductus arteriosis (PDA): a small hole in the heart that normally
closes by itself, but may be more likely to stay open in preemies (it can
be closed using medications or a simple operation)
- Low blood pressure
Other problems
- Jaundice: yellowing of the skin or eyes because the liver has not developed
well enough to remove bilirubin, a substance produced when red blood cells
are broken down (excess bilirubin causes the yellow color)
- Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP): abnormal growth of blood vessels in the
eye that may lead to vision problems
- Necrotizing enterocolitis: a serious condition causing tissue in the bowel
to die
- Blood sugar problems: blood sugar levels may be too high or too low (this
does not mean that your child will develop diabetes later)
- It's important to realize that not all preemies will have these health conditions.
Speak to your doctor if you are concerned about your baby's health.
All material copyright MediResource Inc. 1996 – 2024. Terms and conditions of use. The contents herein are for informational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Source: www.medbroadcast.com/healthfeature/gethealthfeature/Caring-for-Your-Preemie
Bringing a new baby into the world always involves a new set of challenges and changes to your life. Caring for a baby can be hard work, particularly if you already have young children. This is especially true if your baby was born prematurely, because premature infants require extra care and attention.
These resources are designed to help new parents care for their babies. Some provide information especially for parents of preemies; others provide general information for all new parents.
- LaLeche League: provides breast-feeding support and information and helps women solve breast-feeding problems
- Canadian Pediatric Society: offers a wealth of health information about babies and children
- MotherToBaby: advises new parents on the safety of medications during breast-feeding.
Don't forget, your baby's health care team (doctors and nurses) is also a great resource for information. So, if you have questions, don't be afraid to ask!
All material copyright MediResource Inc. 1996 – 2024. Terms and conditions of use. The contents herein are for informational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Source: www.medbroadcast.com/healthfeature/gethealthfeature/Caring-for-Your-Preemie
