Preterm Baby
Q: What does “preterm” mean?
A baby is born “preterm” if he or she is born before 37 weeks of pregnancy have been completed. Normally, a pregnancy lasts about 40 weeks.
Q: Why do preterm babies need special care?
Preterm babies are not fully prepared to live in the world outside their mother’s womb. They get cold more easily and need more help to feed than full-term babies. Because their bodies are not yet fully developed, they may have problems breathing and can also suffer from other complications including infections.
Q: How many babies are born preterm every year and where?
About 15 million babies are born preterm each year; that is more than one in ten babies worldwide. 60% are of them are born in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.
Q: How many preterm babies could be saved?
Around 1 million preterm babies die each year, and countless others suffer some type of lifelong physical, neurological, or educational disability, often at great cost to families and society. Estimated three-quarters of these preterm babies could survive if they had access to proven and often inexpensive care.
Q: What health challenges do preterm babies face?
The earlier in a pregnancy that babies are born, the less prepared their bodies are for the outside world. They need special care to overcome the following challenges:
Staying warm: Preterm babies lose body heat more easily, putting them at risk of life-threatening hypothermia. They need extra energy and care to stay warm and grow.
Feeding: Preterm babies can have trouble feeding because the coordinated suck and swallow reflex is not yet fully developed. They may need additional support for feeding.
Breathing: Many preterm babies start breathing on their own when they are born, but others need to be resuscitated. If the lungs are not fully developed and lack surfactant (a substance that helps keep the lungs expanded), preterm babies may have difficulty breathing. Sometimes, premature babies that start off breathing are not strong enough to continue on their own. They exhaust themselves and may stop breathing (apnoea).
Infections: Severe infections are more common among preterm babies. Their immune systems are not yet fully developed, and they have a higher risk of dying if they get an infection.
Brain: Preterm babies are at risk of bleeding in the brain, during birth and in the first few days after birth; about 1 in 5 babies weighing less than 2kg have this problem. Preterm babies can also have brain injuries from a lack of oxygen. Bleeding or lack of oxygen to the brain can result in result in cerebral palsy, developmental delays, and learning difficulties.
Eyes: Preterm babies’ eyes are not ready for the outside world. They can be damaged by abnormal growth of blood vessels in the retina. The condition is usually more severe in very premature babies and if they are given too high a level of oxygen. This can result in visual impairment or blindness.
Q: What are the consequences of preterm birth later in life?
Preterm babies are at risk of developing disabilities that will affect them for their entire lives. The extent to which this will affect their life strongly depends on how early they were born, the quality of care they received during and around birth and the days and weeks that follow.
Q: What are the precautions to be taken at home after discharge of preterm baby from a nursery?
- You should keep in regular touch with your Pediatrician/Child Specialist.
- Developmental checkups regularly as advised
- Schedule eye examinations for ROP
- The baby will take extra time to develop skills
For any queries feel free to contact us at Maya Clinic.
“Healthy Kids, Happy Family”
Regards
Dr Rahul Varma