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Special Considerations for the Premature Baby
By
Adriana Copaceanu
Every parent hopes and prays that their newborn will be healthy and
safe. Normally a pregnancy lasts nine months. The gestation of a
full term pregnancy is traditionally between 37 to 42 weeks. Any
baby born before 37 weeks is considered premature.
Premature Babies face many challenges that full term babies often
escape. This includes the possibility of being born with organs that
are underdeveloped. Many premature babies have respiratory problems,
as the lungs are generally one of the last organs to develop
completely during gestation.
Fortunately modern technology has provided hospitals with the
ability to care for infants born prematurely. In times of old
infants born before 34 weeks faced many challenges, and were much
more likely to die. Modern technology has allowed babies born as
early as 26 weeks to still survive. There are several factors which
might contribute to a mother’s likelihood of having a premature
infant. These include the following:
- Having delivered a premature baby before, which increases your
risk up to 40%
- Multiple gestations – the parents of twins generally face
delivering prematurely
- Diabetes
- Smoking
- High Blood Pressure
- Pre-eclampsia – a condition in the mother experiences high
blood pressure and edema, normally resulting from a buildup of
toxins in the body
- Malnutrition
- Accident or injury
- Fetal Distress
Some premature babies have to stay in the hospital for several
weeks after birth, until they are strong enough to venture home with
mom and dad. Babies born before 34 weeks are often given steroids to
help the lungs mature, in the hope that respiratory problems might
be minimized. Some premature babies are too weak when born to suckle
at mother’s breast. Moms however are still encouraged to place their
premature infant at their chests. Studies show that babies who have
skin to skin contact when born prematurely are more likely to thrive
and gain weight faster than those who are not.
Mothers who give birth to a premature baby sometimes have to pump
for the first few weeks in order to establish an adequate milk
supply. If you find this is the case, you might consider renting a
hospital grade pump to allow for optimal milk supply maintenance.
Premature babies can be fed breast milk through a bottle. Premature
babies will benefit from having the antibody rich milk from their
mother’s breast.
Some babies born after 34 weeks require little extra assistance.
Many leave the hospital after a few days, though the majority of
babies born prematurely are not discharged until a time near their
original due date. Signs that your baby is thriving include the
ability to eat and a regular pattern of weight gain. The hospital
staff will also take great care to ensure your baby is breathing
well on his own. Some infants are born with a condition called
jaundice, and are placed under special bilirubin lights to help the
body break up the materials causing jaundice.
All newborns are at risk for infection because their immune systems
need time to properly mature. This is even more so the case for
premature infants. Many physicians recommend that you not take your
infant into public/crowded places until they are at minimum three
months old, to reduce the likelihood that they will catch a
potentially life threatening cold.
Many babies born prematurely eventually catch up to their peers
within a year. Thanks to modern technology a majority of babies born
prematurely will do just as well as those born at or around their
due date.
Adriana Copaceanu is a busy mom of 2. Visit her Busy Moms Online if
you are looking for ways to maximize your precious time. And if you
are a new mom, you'll find everything you need to know at her Baby's
First Year website.
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