Special Areas in Premature Baby Care
Premature baby care varies depending on how prematurely a baby was born. A few weeks before the due date is technically not considered a premature baby as after 37 weeks of gestation, the baby is medically ‘full term’. However if the baby is born several weeks or months early, then it requires special care in order for it to survive and be able to lead a normal, healthy life.
Medical Advances
Medical science has made great strides when it comes to premature baby care, and many infants who might not have survived a few decades ago are alive and healthy today. Thanks to neo natal intensive care units with specialists in every field, new drugs and devices, premature baby care is not what it used to be.
Rise of Multiples
Multiples are now more heard of due to people focusing on careers and choosing to have babies later in life. The fertility treatments often result in twins, triplets (or more) and they are often born prematurely. Caring for such babes is easier nowadays with so much research done on how to help them overcome the deficiencies they have to face in the real world as opposed to staying in the mother’s womb. The lungs are usually the last organ to full develop and hence many premature babies are in incubators with oxygen to help them breathe.
Feeding
Feeding is another issue in premature baby care as they find it harder to learn the sucking reflex. Many time smothers express breast milk and it is given to the baby with a dropper or syringe as they can not suck at a bottle or at the breast. However, the power of touch is shown to do miracles. Many parents of premature babies care for them by sitting next to their incubators or cribs in the NICU and hold on to their tiny little fingers.
Weight
Another area where premature baby care is important is with regards to their weight. Many preemies are born under 5 pounds and hence feeding changing and bathing them needs tact and poise which is better left to a trained nurse. However, parents are quick to learn and can trust their gut when they bring the baby home. Because preemies are so small, finding clothes, car seats and other accessories for them is sometimes harder, however it is not impossible.
With proper premature baby care they put on weight pretty quickly and graduate to wearing regular baby clothes in just a few moths. If no complications arise; a few years later, no one can tell if the baby was a preemie or not.
Medical Advances
Medical science has made great strides when it comes to premature baby care, and many infants who might not have survived a few decades ago are alive and healthy today. Thanks to neo natal intensive care units with specialists in every field, new drugs and devices, premature baby care is not what it used to be.
Rise of Multiples
Multiples are now more heard of due to people focusing on careers and choosing to have babies later in life. The fertility treatments often result in twins, triplets (or more) and they are often born prematurely. Caring for such babes is easier nowadays with so much research done on how to help them overcome the deficiencies they have to face in the real world as opposed to staying in the mother’s womb. The lungs are usually the last organ to full develop and hence many premature babies are in incubators with oxygen to help them breathe.
Feeding
Feeding is another issue in premature baby care as they find it harder to learn the sucking reflex. Many time smothers express breast milk and it is given to the baby with a dropper or syringe as they can not suck at a bottle or at the breast. However, the power of touch is shown to do miracles. Many parents of premature babies care for them by sitting next to their incubators or cribs in the NICU and hold on to their tiny little fingers.
Weight
Another area where premature baby care is important is with regards to their weight. Many preemies are born under 5 pounds and hence feeding changing and bathing them needs tact and poise which is better left to a trained nurse. However, parents are quick to learn and can trust their gut when they bring the baby home. Because preemies are so small, finding clothes, car seats and other accessories for them is sometimes harder, however it is not impossible.
With proper premature baby care they put on weight pretty quickly and graduate to wearing regular baby clothes in just a few moths. If no complications arise; a few years later, no one can tell if the baby was a preemie or not.
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