Premature babies

Born Too Soon.. Babies born before the 37th week of gestation are considered premature and are sometimes referred to as “Preemies” (more than 3 weeks before the "due date").More than 1 in 10 babies are born preterm, affecting families all around the world. 15 million babies are born premature every year. Over 1 million children die each year due to complications of preterm birth. Many survivors face a lifetime of disability. Sub-categories of preterm birth, based on weeks of gestational age: Extremely preterm (<28 weeks) Very preterm (28 to <32 weeks) Moderate to late preterm (32 to <37 weeks) Late preterm (35 and 37 weeks) Causes Often, the cause of preterm labor is unknown. About 15% of all premature births are multiple pregnancies (twins, triplets, etc.). Health conditions in the mother, such as diabetes, heart disease, and kidney disease, may contribute to preterm labor. Symptoms and signs- The infant may have trouble breathing, feeding and keeping a constant body temperature. A premature infant may have signs of the following problems: • Neonatal respiratory distress syndrome due to surfactant deficiency in lungs • Newborn jaundice • Anemia • Bleeding into the brain or damage to the brain's white matter • Infection • Low blood sugar • Patent ductus arteriosis • Severe intestinal inflammation (necrotizing enterocolitis) Why do premature newborns need special care? Premature babies have underdeveloped parts that include the lungs, digestive system, immune system and skin. Thankfully, medical technology has made it possible for preemies to survive until they are strong enough to make it on their own. This may take weeks to months depending severity of baby’s prematurity. Treatment When premature labor develops and cannot be stopped, the mother may be moved to a center that has set up to care for premature infants in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). After birth, the baby is admitted to a NICU. The infant is placed under a warmer or in an incubator. Monitoring machines track the baby's breathing, heart rate, and level of oxygen in the blood. The baby may need support for breathing on ventilator or CPAP machine. Premature babies may also need intravenous nutrition and antibiotics to fight infection. The baby may have a feeding tube placed through the nose or mouth into the stomach. Once the baby’s respiratory system is stabilized it can begin breastfeeding. Most babies born 35-37 weeks can go straight to breastfeeding. Infants need special nursery care until they are able to breathe without extra support, eat by mouth, and maintain body temperature and body weight. What is Kangaroo Care? Kangaroo care is a technique where the premature baby is placed in an upright position on its mother’s bare chest allowing skin to skin contact. Kangaroo care has been shown to help premature newborns with maintaining body temperature and gaining weight. It also improves breastfeeding and increases intimacy & bonding between baby and mother. Outlook (Prognosis) The survival rate depends on the quality of NICU care available. Sevenhills Hospital offers tertiary level Neonatal care for babies born in the hospital and surrounding areas. The more premature an infant and the smaller the birth weight, the greater the risk of complications. Possible Complications- • Chronic Lung disease(BPD) • Growth and development delay or disability • Retinopathy of prematurity, vision abnormalities Prevention The best ways to prevent prematurity are to: • Be in good health before getting pregnant • Get prenatal care as early as possible in the pregnancy • Continue to get prenatal care until the baby is born Premature labor can sometimes be treated or delayed by a medication that blocks uterine contractions. Betamethasone (a steroid medication) given to mothers in premature labor can make some prematurity complications less severe.