Providing special care for premature babies

Providing special care for premature babies

Premature babies may suffer from jaundice and breathing difficulties, it is crucial that they receive special care.

Caring for a premature infant involves close monitoring and regular physical examinations. Premature infants are those born before completing 37 weeks of gestation. While most premature infants do not have significant health problems, they require extra attention because they need to adjust to the outside world more than full-term babies. Premature infants may be born with low birth weight or at around 32-33 weeks of gestation, which can cause additional problems in proportion to the decreasing duration of pregnancy.

However, premature babies may experience delayed development because their brains grow most rapidly during the last 6-7 weeks of gestation, and being born before this period means their brains may not fully develop. Therefore, physicians will constantly monitor their developmental progress, such as their hearing and vision abilities. Parents can also promote their infant's development by exposing them to gentle music, talking to them frequently, and using appropriate colors and lighting.

Problems that premature infants may face:

• Hypothermia is a common problem for premature infants because they are often small and have difficulty regulating their body temperature. Therefore, it is necessary to closely monitor and regulate their body temperature to keep them warm, which may require the use of an incubator as the primary tool to control temperature.
• Breathing difficulties are also common for premature infants, who are often born with low birth weight. For example, premature infants weighing only 1 kilogram at birth often have respiratory problems and may require mechanical ventilation because their lungs are not fully developed.
• Premature birth can cause low blood sugar levels because premature infants are prone to hypothermia. To maintain a body temperature of 37°C, the body will have to use stored energy as fuel, which can lower the blood sugar level.
• Premature infants are more susceptible to infections because their immune systems are not fully developed. This is particularly true for premature infants who are born before the end of the pregnancy term, and they are up to four times more likely to develop infections than full-term infants.
• Jaundice is another common problem for premature infants, as their liver function is not yet fully developed. This can result in prolonged jaundice, particularly in Asian babies.
• Premature infants often have difficulty swallowing because their bodies have not yet fully developed the coordination required for suckling and breathing. This can result in frequent episodes of choking while feeding.
• Premature infants may also develop hydrocephalus, which is an accumulation of fluid in the brain. Although this condition often resolves on its own, some premature infants may develop larger than normal heads due to the accumulation of fluid, without any impact on their developmental progress.
• Necrotizing enterocolitis, where a premature infant's intestines may inflame and decay without warning, without any means of prevention. This can manifest in various symptoms, such as temporary lack of blood to the intestines, intestines dying but not perforating, and intestines perforating. The cause of this condition is often unknown.

Guidelines for taking care of a premature infant at home:

1. You should provide a clean, well-lit, well-ventilated and noise-free environment for the baby.
2. The mother should breastfeed the baby frequently as newborns often experience the desire to sleep most of the time. The baby should be encouraged to suckle frequently to ensure that the baby receives complete nutrition from the mother's milk, which is crucial for the baby's proper physical development.
3. The baby's digestive and absorptive systems are still immature after breastfeeding. Therefore, the mother should take care not to allow the baby to become engorged or regurgitate milk by placing the baby in a position that helps the baby burp easily, which will also help reduce colic.
4. Keep the baby warm at all times as infants are susceptible to feeling cold, which can cause discomfort. If the baby has a fever, a runny nose, or is producing phlegm, the mother should take the baby to the hospital immediately.
5. The mother can stimulate the baby's development by playing soft music or hanging toys for the baby to look at, or holding and cuddling the baby to promote bonding. Preterm babies tend to have delayed development compared to full-term babies of around 2-3 months, but this may depend on other factors as well.
6. Do not take the baby to crowded places with poor ventilation before touching or holding the baby. The mother should wash her hands thoroughly every time, and maintaining hygiene is essential as various infectious diseases may be brought in by relatives or friends visiting. The baby's belongings should not be kept in the same room where the baby is staying.
7. If the baby is experiencing diarrhea, runny nose, abnormal skin conditions like unexplained blisters or dry skin, refuses to breastfeed or drink water, it is advisable for you to take them to the hospital for further examination by a pediatrician.
8. When it is time for your child's health check-up, it is important for you to take your child to see the doctor on time and regularly, to ensure continuous monitoring by the doctor. Any potential health issues that arise can be addressed promptly.
9. This matter is quite important. You should inform your relatives or anyone else who may visit your child or want to hold them, that your child may be at risk for contracting infections from those who visit, as their immune system is not yet fully developed. If you have another child who is also in the vulnerable age range, this could potentially create further problems as the older child may not understand the condition of the newborn. It is crucial for you to prioritize this issue.

With best wishes from the Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, Vibhavadi Hospital