Every couple looks forward to the day they can bring their new baby home. Amidst the excitement and planning, the well-being of the unborn child is the parents' primary concern. Even if the pregnancy progresses without a hitch, the baby could still be born much sooner than expected. These newborns are classified as preterm or premature.
What is Premature Birth?
From the day of fertilization until the due date, a baby is in the womb for a total of 40 weeks. A preterm or premature baby is one born before the expected due date by more than three weeks (37 weeks). Babies who are born too early are more likely to have developmental issues, which can make them more likely to have issues after they are born. These issues are typically a result of underdeveloped lungs and digestive systems. Undergoing at the right time can save the baby of complications.
Types of Premature Birth
As per gestational age, premature birth weeks are separated into three categories: "Preterm" "Term" and "Post term".
Preterm births: before37 weeks
Late Preterm: Late 34 to 36 weeks
Very Preterm: less than 32 weeks
Extremely Preterm: before 25 weeks
Term: born at 37 to less than 42 weeks.
Post-term: After 42 weeks of gestation.
Causes of Premature Birth
Many preterm births have unknown causes. However, there are several established risk factors that can cause a woman to enter labor before her due date.
- Diabetes (high blood sugar)
- High blood pressure
- Heart or kidney issues
- Amniotic membrane infection
- Urinary tract infection
- Unhealthy eating habits
- Consuming drugs, drinking
- Infections on urinary tract
- Early cervix opening
- Total number of births
Premature Birth Complications
Many problems can arise for the infants if babies arrive early. There is a greater chance of complications for the newborn, some of which may be evident soon after birth and others of which may manifest later on. Babies born early are more likely to have short-term and long-term health problems like:
- i) Short-term Complications
- Partially developed organs: Partially formed organs in premature newborns can lead to a variety of complications, including trouble breathing, respiratory disease, hypoxia, hypotension, intraventricular hemorrhage in the brain, and necrotizing enterocolitis.
- Temperature regulation issues: Since they have less body fat stored, premature infants tend to have cooler core body temperatures. They can't generate enough body heat to sustain themselves. Low body core temperature can cause hypoglycemia and breathing problems. Warmers and incubators are used to maintain a constant core body temperature.
- Blood disorders: Premature infants often suffer from jaundice (a condition characterized by yellowing of the skin and eyes due to an excess of bilirubin in the blood) and anemia (a condition characterized by a low RBC count).
- Metabolic issues: Premature infants have difficulty converting glucose reserves into their active forms, leading to a diminished rate of energy production and hypoglycemia. A sluggish metabolic rate is the inevitable result of this.
- Immune system problems: Babies born too soon are more likely to contract an illness since their immune systems aren't fully developed. There is a high risk of sepsis, another type of bloodstream infection, developing in a premature newborn if an infection gets into their bloodstream. Seeking help from the neonatal critical care in Coimbatore can save your child from life-threatening conditions
2.ii) Long Term Complications
There are potential long-term consequences associated with premature birth.
- Cerebral palsy
- Impaired learning
- Vision problems
- Hearing problems
- Dental problems
- Psychological problems
- Chronic health issues
Cares for the Premature Babies
The care for extremely premature babies involves providing specialized medical care, administering medications to help the baby's immature organs develop, providing nutrition, helping the baby maintain a stable body temperature, monitoring the baby's breathing and providing respiratory support, and providing skin-to-skin contact and other forms of sensory stimulation to help the baby's brain and nervous system develop. This premature infant care is typically provided in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) by a team of extreme premature babies specialists in Coimbatore . Some of the main cares for extremely premature babies include:
1. Temperature
A premature baby needs to be kept in a temperature-neutral environment so that stress is kept to a minimum and growth is maximized. Infants born too soon are typically kept in incubators with radiant heaters. These high-tech gadgets monitor the infant's temperature constantly and regulate the power of the overhead heater to keep the infant comfortably within the set parameters.
2. Breathing Problem
A fetus can't breathe. It gets oxygen and nutrients from the placenta. Fluid fills its lungs. Baby breathes soon after birth. A term baby will do so. Premature newborns may have issues. These infants may still require ventilation support into the future. Either a positive pressure is applied to the infant's nose or a tube is inserted into the baby's lungs and the baby is connected to a ventilator to help the baby breathe.
3. Nutrition Needs
Babies born prematurely often have difficulty eating. Depending on their level of development when they are born, they may require intravenous nutrition or, if they are reasonably developed, tube feeding through the nose or mouth. Intravenous feedings of calories, protein, minerals, and vitamins are the first line of defense in the fight to save the lives of very premature newborns. A thin intravenous catheter (tube) is inserted into a major vein in the body to do this. Oral feedings are introduced once the infant has developed the ability to sucking and swallow (often about 34 weeks).
4. Jaundice Problem
Common health issues include jaundice. It's common in premature infants because their livers aren't developed enough to process the bilirubin, a yellow chemical produced when hemoglobin is broken down. When levels of bilirubin in a newborn's blood get too high, the baby needs to be kept under special lights (phototherapy).
4. Anemia Problems
Babies born early must be watched carefully. Regular blood draws are usually necessary for this purpose. Although only a small amount of blood is needed for each test, the high frequency with which they must be performed and the sheer number of them mean that substantial blood is lost over time in the name of early detection and proper problem management.
5. Heart Condition
An early-born infant's heart has been pumping blood ever since it initially began beating. However, it is not usually prepared for the substantial changes in circulation. The problem with the heart can be diagnosed with the help of a cardiac echo. Medicines are tried first, but if they fail, these infants may need surgery to plug the duct.
Majority of the children are born prematurely and undergo treatment by extreme premature babies specialists in Coimbatore, and tend to recover over time.
