Becoming a parent is something that many people desire. However, it takes careful preparation for every prospective parent to face a series of challenges that may occur.
One of the challenges for parents is when giving birth to a premature baby.
Every parent who gives birth to a premature baby will certainly be very anxious and worried because there are many unwanted risks that can occur to the baby.
You need to know that currently, medical technology is developing, so the survival rate of premature babies is getting higher.
However, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, premature birth is still the leading cause of infant mortality worldwide.
In addition, premature birth is also a major cause of long-term nervous system disorders in children.
Knowing the risks, it would be good for Mama to understand more about the birth of a premature baby.
Well, this time Popmama.com will discuss the symptoms, risks, causes and how to treat premature babies. Just take a look at the information, Ma!
1. What is a premature baby?
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Premature babies are babies born long before their due time. In general, normal babies are born between the 37th week to the 40th week.
While premature babies are born before the 37th week, so they are born before they are ready to develop outside the womb.
There are four categories of preterm births determined by gestational age, including:
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Late preterm, namely babies born between the 34th and 36th weeks of pregnancy.
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Moderately preterm, i.e. babies born between the 32nd and 34th weeks of gestation.
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Very preterm, namely babies born less than 32 weeks of gestation.
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Extremely preterm, namely babies born at or before 25 weeks of gestation.
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2. Symptoms of premature babies
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Babies born prematurely can show a variety of symptoms. This depends on the category of babies born prematurely.
However, premature babies share some common characteristics, from their appearance and behavior to their eating and sleeping habits.
Here are some of the symptoms of a premature baby:
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Small body size, with a large head, so it looks disproportionate.
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Babies have a small body due to lack of fat stores.
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There is fine hair (lanugo) that covers most of the baby’s body.
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Baby’s skin is very thin, sometimes even visible blood vessels under the surface of the skin because the extra layer of fat has not formed.
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Low body temperature, especially after birth in the delivery room, due to a lack of body fat.
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Having trouble breathing.
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Lack of reflexes for sucking and swallowing, causing difficulty eating.
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3. Causes of premature birth
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Causes of premature birth are inherently difficult to identify. However, there are certain factors that can increase the risk of pregnant women giving birth earlier than they should.
Pregnant women who experience the following conditions are more at risk for giving birth prematurely:
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Diabetes
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Heart disease
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Kidney illness
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High blood pressure
In addition to the above conditions, there are pregnancy-related factors that can lead to premature birth, including:
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Experiencing malnutrition before and during pregnancy.
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Smoking, using illegal drugs, or drinking too much alcohol during pregnancy.
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Have certain infections, such as urinary tract and membrane infections.
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Have had a premature birth in a previous pregnancy.
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Having problems with the uterus.
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Cervical dilation too early.
In addition, pregnant women who are under 17 years old or more than 35 years old also have a greater potential to give birth to premature babies.
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4. The risk of premature babies
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The earlier the baby is born, the more likely he is to have medical problems. Following are the problems that premature babies may experience:
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Difficulty breathing
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Low weight
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Low body fat
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Inability to maintain normal body temperature
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Have movement and coordination problems
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Difficulty eating
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Skin looks abnormally pale or yellow
In addition to the above conditions, premature babies can also be born with life-threatening conditions, such as the following:
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Brain hemorrhage
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Lung bleeding
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Hypoglycemia or low blood sugar
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Neonatal sepsis, which is a blood infection that occurs in newborns
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Pneumonia or infection and inflammation of the lungs
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Patent ductus arteriosus, which is a disorder in which the vessel that connects the left pulmonary artery with the descending aorta remains open after the baby is born
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Anemia, which is a lack of red blood cells to carry oxygen throughout the body
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Neonatal respiratory distress syndrome, which is a respiratory disorder caused by the lungs not developing properly
Some of the above conditions can be overcome with proper medical treatment.
However, if not treated properly, it can lead to more serious health problems, to life-threatening.
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5. How to deal with premature babies
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Reported from World Health Organization (WHO), more than three quarters of premature babies can be saved with proper care, such as care during birth and after birth.
Handling can be done by giving antenatal steroid injections given to pregnant women who are at risk of premature birth.
Meanwhile, premature babies can be treated with kangaroo mother care or the kangaroo method, where the baby is carried by the mother with skin-to-skin contact. In addition, babies can also be given antibiotics to treat infections.
It would be nice if you prevent premature birth by maintaining a healthy pregnancy, such as eating nutritious foods, not smoking and drinking alcohol, and regularly checking with your doctor to identify if there are factors that can cause premature birth.
Well, that’s information about premature babies, ranging from causes to how to handle them. I hope this information helps, Ma.
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