Pregnancy comes with a lot of unexpected moments. Some may be happy, such as finding out the news that you are carrying a new life inside you or feeling the first kick of your baby. While some may be devastating, some may fall somewhere in between, such as giving birth to a premature baby.
What you need to know about premature babies
A premature baby is a baby born earlier than the complete 37 weeks of pregnancy².
Becoming parents of premature babies may have you in a state of mixed feelings: happy that the child is born safely, concerned if they may face any complications in the future, maybe even feeling guilty and self-blaming that the baby was born earlier.
The birth of a premature baby will make room for a lot of “What if’s” in a parent’s life, and the parents shall not blame themselves as it’s not their fault!
And so, caring for a premature baby is slightly different from caring for other babies.
How to take care of a premature baby
In most instances, a premature baby will have to stay in the hospital for a while before the parents bring the baby home. This is to ensure that there will be no complications for the baby, and they can easily receive essential care from professionals.
However, if you plan to bring the baby home, here are some tips you may follow to ensure your baby’s health development1:
1. Bringing the baby home.
Bringing your premature baby home from the hospital can be daunting and you can prepare for the big day beforehand. Ensure your baby is added to your insurance policy and choose a pediatrician you trust and are comfortable with. Make sure that you are committed for follow-up visits. If your baby is on apnea (pause of breathing during sleep) monitoring, make sure that you or the baby’s caregivers have learned infant cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Besides, when bringing a baby home, make sure the proper car seat is installed and do attend hospital discharge meetings if there is any.
2. Breastfeeding.
There are a lot of benefits from breast milk that can help your baby grow and develop healthily. The nutrients and vitamins in a mother’s breast milk can help a preemie grow up healthier and faster. Breast milk is much easier to be digested compared to formula milk as it caters to your baby’s body. If you are unable to breastfeed your baby, you can opt to feed your baby with breast milk from other donors too.
3. Skin contact.
Spending skin-to-skin quality time with your child is often looked over. Skin-to-skin can be a great exercise for both parents with the child. It helps to build a bond between the parent and the baby. In addition, it also helps to reduce any pain or stress experienced by your child. Through this activity, there are more benefits such as the mother getting to establish breastfeeding, while the baby has a healthy weight gain, and regulated breathing and heart rate.
4. Sleep posture.
If your preemie sleeps more than other infants, kindly take note that this is normal as it helps with the baby's growth and development process. Just ensure your baby is sleeping comfortably on their back (never on the stomach!), and always on a hard and flat surface without any pillows.
5. Limiting outdoor visits.
It is always best to keep your baby indoors for the first few weeks at home, except for regular doctor’s appointments. As the baby is still vulnerable during their growth, keeping them at home will lower their risk of being exposed to infections and diseases. Keep your baby in a clean environment for at least a few months.
Taking care of a preemie is a hard job, but once they grow and develop healthily, the feeling of pride and happiness is definitely indescribable. Of course, there are still things that parents need to look out for preemies even after all care has been given.
What to look out for with a preemie baby
We are aware premature babies may be born with complications and that include5 :
- Apnea (temporary pauses in breathing during sleep).
- Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (underdeveloped lungs).
- Sepsis (blood infection).
- Necrotizing enterocolitis (inflammation of the intestines).
- Respiratory syncytial virus (infection of the respiratory tract).
Some diagnoses in a preemie can be familiar, however respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) can be something new to many parents.
What is RSV: Signs and symptoms
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a virus which causes infections in the lungs and respiratory tract of a child³. It is a common virus that most children will experience by the age of two⁴. RSV is the leading cause of hospitalization for lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI) in children worldwide6. It could also infect adults other than children.
As the immunity of premature babies is unusually low, the risk of getting infected with RSV will be higher. The symptoms may be life-threatening when it affects premature babies so hospitalisation may be required4.
So, how can parents determine if their preemie baby may be infected with RSV? ⁴
- Short, shallow and rapid breathing
- Struggling to breathe
- Cough
- Poor feeding
- Unusual tiredness
- Irritability
These symptoms may be daunting to the parents as premature babies are unable to communicate to them about the pain and discomfort they are feeling. Hence, parents will need to keep an eye out for most of the symptoms. Seek a doctor immediately if you are concerned about your baby having RSV.
A good discussion with your paediatrician or neonatologist may help greatly, especially if you are discussing the usage of prophylaxis to boost the child’s immune system. Parents should keep children protected from the various symptoms that may cause discomfort by getting their babies immunised.
Immune your baby with prevention
Nowadays, medicinal technology has come a long way. While medical experts and professionals are still searching for remedies and vaccines for RSV, parents can keep children safe and healthy by strengthening their immunity with passive prophylaxis.
Prophylaxis is used to prevent infection. After all, the word “prophylaxis” stems from the Greek word “phylax” which means “to guard”7. So, prophylaxis is guarding from or preventing the spread or occurrence of disease or infection. To know more about RSV prophylaxis, click here.
The use of prophylaxis towards premature infants is effective in reducing the risk of hospitalisation8.
For parents with children of any ages, prophylaxis is definitely a consideration for the health and well-being of your child. After all, it is a Protection for the Vulnerable Ones!
This educational article is brought to you by AstraZeneca.
AstraZeneca Sdn Bhd (69730-X)
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Source:
1 5 Premature Baby Care Tips At Home. Apollo Cradle & Children's Hospital. https://www.apollocradle.com/premature-baby-care-tips/ Accessed on 20th March 2023.
2 Premature Birth. Cleveland Clinic. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/21479- premature-birth Accessed on 21st March 2023.
3J Pediatr Pharmacol Ther. 2011 Apr-Jun; 16(2): 77-86. doi: 10.5863/1551-6776-16.2.77 Respiratory Syncytial Virus Prophylaxis in Special Populations: Is it Something Worth Considering in Cystic Fibrosis and Immunosuppression? https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3208444/ Accessed on 15th March 2023.
4 Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/respiratory-syncytial-virus/symptoms-causes/syc-20353098 Accessed on 10th April 2023
5 Premature Birth https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/21479-premature-birth Accessed on 10th April 2023
6 RSV lower respiratory tract infection and lung health in the first 2 years of life https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/article/PIIS2214-109X(20)30303-X/fulltext Accessed on 10th April 2023
7 What is Prophylaxis https://www.pressreader.com/uk/the-sunday-post-inverness/20210704/284477166573823 Accessed on 10th April 2023
8 Hospital admissions for bronchiolitis in preterm infants in the absence of respiratory syncytial virus prophylaxis. BMJ Journal https://fn.bmj.com/content/90/1/F92.1 Accessed on 10th April 2023