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Most full-term babies born at about 40 weeks of pregnancy weigh an average of 7 1/2 pounds. This is why the earlier a premature baby is born, the smaller and lighter they might be. However, even full-term babies can also sometimes have low birth weight. If you deliver a preterm baby, your baby will likely need a longer hospital stay in a special nursery unit at the hospital. Depending on how much care your baby requires, he or she may be admitted to an intermediate care nursery or the neonatal intensive care unit . Doctors and a specialized team with training in taking care of preterm babies will be available to help care for your baby.
The second milestone that your premature baby will need to reach is regarding their temperature. No matter where your preemie started on the above scales, they will need to be in an open crib and able to maintain their own body temperature for at least hours. If your baby is a boy, you'll need to decide aboutcircumcision. Before you all leave the hospital, the care team will make sure you feel comfortable caring for your baby on your own. Some hospitals offer a rooming-in period in a hospital room with your baby so you can get some hands-on caregiving experience.
Can I discharge my premature baby from hospital?
Preemies can be given the injections at home by a nurse or in the doctor's office. This medicine does not always prevent RSV infection but can lessen its severity. Ask your doctor whether your baby should receive preventive injections. If your baby will need oxygen after leaving the hospital, equipment for giving it at home and in transit will be arranged before discharge.
The outlook for very extreme preemies born before 28 weeks has improved significantly over the years thanks to medical advances. Low birth weightis considered less than 5 pounds, 8 ounces. Although they look like full-term babies, 35- and 36-weekers are still premature babies. Preemies born at 31 and 32 weeks may be able to do one or two of these things at birth, but it will take time to reach all three milestones. The youngest preemie ever to survive was Amillia Taylor, who was born at only 21 weeks and 6 days gestation . Are those babies born weighing less than 3 pounds, 5 ounces.
Respiratory Distress Syndrome
Most NICUs require babies to be free from events for 3-5 days before going home. This includes not having any events during their “car seat test,” a test that shows if the baby can sit in their car seat for 1.5 hours without any events. Preterm babies have a weak “suck and swallow,” and may not feed well at first. Some preterm infants are born so early they cannot have food in their stomachs until they are developed more. Good feeding is important for growth and normal blood sugar levels.
However, it’s important to remember that, while you can’t control every factor, making healthy choices during pregnancy and keeping up with prenatal care helps to give your baby their best start. Premature babies can arrive 3 to almost 15 weeks earlier than the approximate due date at 40 weeks. How early a baby is born makes a difference in your baby’s health and in their birth weight. Most car seats need to be modified with padding or head supports so that a preemie's head stays in a position that keeps the airway open. A preemie often does not have the muscle control needed to keep the head upright or to move it if he or she is having trouble breathing.
Tips on bringing your preemie home
In a warm room at home, dress your infant in only a diaper, then place the baby on your chest and turn your baby's head to one side so that his or her ear is against your heart. Research shows that kangaroo care can enhance parent-child bonding, promote breastfeeding, and improve a preemie's health. In premature babies, it is common for apnea and/or bradycardic events to occur. Sometimes you will hear them called “As and Bs” or just “events.” Apnea refers to a period of time when breathing stops. Bradycardia is the slowing of the heart rate to under 100 beats per minute. Most babies will grow out of these events by the time they were due to be born.
When your baby is in an open crib, it is important to beginsafe sleep practices. For Sudden Infant Death Syndrome prevention, your baby should always sleep on their back. Your baby may be returned to the warmer environment at the first sign of inability to maintain temperature. Because their immune systems are still developing, they’re also at a greater risk of infection, and they’re more prone to hypoglycemia and hypothermia. They are also starting to shed their lanugo (the fine hair that covers a preemie's body). Their eyes can now blink, but bright lights and loud noises are usually still uncomfortable.
Your premature baby will need a special wardrobe and other pint-sized items. (Hang on to one of those teensy onesies for his scrapbook. In a couple of years, you won’t believe he was ever that small.) Be sure to stock up on preemie diapers too. If you can’t find them at your local big-box store, look online. You may also need a special car seat made forlow-birth-weight babies or at least an infant seat with a newborn insert that will cradle his smaller-than-usual frame. Some hospitals have loaner car seats, so ask before you leave.
Spend as much time as you can to enjoy some skin-to-skin connection with your baby. Studies show that kangaroo care can nurture parent-child bonding, encourage breastfeeding, and enhance a baby’s health. Ensure that you know all the drills and understand the directives.
A preemie's eyes are especially vulnerable to injury after birth. A serious complication is retinopathy of prematurity , which is abnormal growth of the blood vessels in an infant's eye. Caring for a premature baby can be physically and emotionally exhausting.
Premature or preterm births are most common with twin and multiples pregnancies. The more premature your baby is born, the more likely they’ll have a lower birth weight. Many factors can influence your premature baby’s weight including pregnancy complications, infections, and maternal behaviors. But one of the primary factors in an early arrival and lower birth weight is carrying more than one baby.
Brain tumor, breast cancer, colon cancer, congenital heart disease, heart arrhythmia. Caring for a preemie can be physically and mentally demanding and exhausting. Thus, don’t hesitate to receive offers of support and help from others. Make sure you get enough rest, eat well and remain stress-free. It is typical to feel nervous while shifting your preemie from hospital to home.
The most common problem premature babies have is difficulty breathing, also known as Respiratory Distress Syndrome because preemies have lungs that are not yet fully developed. Your baby may need respiratory support until their lungs have advanced to the point they can breathe on their own. Apnea does improve as your baby's lungs grow stronger, and they are able to breathe without support.
While it seems like a distant dream, soon enough your preemie will sleep through the night just like his full-term counterparts. Your baby may be small and has not stored up much body fat. They may get cold and burn too many calories trying to stay warm. They may be placed in an incubator to help keep them warm and then moved to a crib when they are able to keep their temperature at a normal level by themselves. Your baby will need to be in a crib and having a normal temperature for at least 24 hours before going home.
They say you should never wake a sleeping baby, but when it comes to preemies, it can be a must because they’re likely to sleep through feedings if you don’t. Many preterm babies don’t start off breastfeeding for a variety of reasons, but once they start, it can be hard to keep them awake during a session. If your little one falls asleep constantly during feedings, try burping her, switching positions, singing a vibrant song, rubbing his forehead with a cool towel or changing the scenery. Note that some preemies may have to sleep on their sides because of lung issues, so ask your doctor about sleeping positions. But for most babies, back is best, which is especially important for premature babies because they're at greater risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome . Leave blankets, soft bedding, pillows and stuffed animals out of the crib.
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