Karah S's List: prematurely born babies

• Any baby that is born before the 37th week is considered preterm. The closer you are to 37 weeks at the time of delivery, the more developed the baby will be and the less likely it will have serious problems.
• Likewise, the earlier you are in your pregnancy when you deliver, the higher the likelihood for the baby to have more serious complications. If it is possible to delay your delivery, even for just 48 hours, your doctor may try to do so. You will usually receive an injection of corticosteroids, medications that help the baby's lungs mature before delivery.
• eeks since the mother’s last period) is probably the most important predictor of survival, followed by the baby’s weight at birth. Less than 25 percent of babies born at 23 weeks survive, about 50 percent of babies born at 24 weeks survive, and nearly 92 percent of those born at 29 weeks will survive.

• they will look different than what you expected. The baby will appear to be red and very little. You may notice that you can see all the blood vessels through fragile-looking skin because there has not been enough time to develop any fat underneath. 
• put in an incubator
• baby's temperature to be stabilized enough to keep it warm

• This also decreases the risk of an infection. The humidity is controlled to help maintain the baby's hydration and prevent water loss. A cap may be kept on the baby's head to help limit heat loss. 
• The baby may need extra oxygen
• Babies who are born prematurely often may not be developed enough to breastfeed or bottle-feed.
• the baby may be ready to be given food that goes through a tube in the baby's nose to the stomach.
• It is extremely helpful to give premature babies breast milk because it has proteins and antibodies that help prevent infection and encourage growth.
• The breast milk may be given through the tube
• It is important for you and your baby to have physical contact as early as possible.
• It is not unusual for parents to feel awkward, anxious, and uncomfortable in the NICU.
• stroke your baby through the openings in the incubator
• Cuddling with your baby directly against your skin, called “kangaroo care,” is an especially good way to bond with your baby
• You will need to take time to recover physically so that you can be strong for your baby.
• You might experience anger, fear, guilt, and depression

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• Having delivered a previous premature baby, which puts you at a 20-40% of having another premature baby.
• The risk increases with each additional fetus.
• Having too much (polyhydramnios) or too little (oligohydramnios) amniotic fluid.
• • Infections during pregnancy, especially if they spread to the uterus or placenta.  
  • Diabetes.  
  • High blood pressure.
• Maternal smoking or use of illicit drugs.
• Maternal malnutrition, especially if it leads to poor weight gain during pregnancy.
• Becoming pregnant while being treated for infertility, having a previous abortion in the 2nd trimester, and not having prenatal care.
• where you will be likely started on bed rest and given fluids as an evaluation is done to check on the status of the baby and mother.
• situations labor can be stopped with bed rest and intravenous fluids.
• medications, usually magnesium sulfate or terbutaline may be used.
• receive steroids to help his lungs develop more quickly before he is delivered.
• Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).
• In general, babies born after 24 to 25 weeks of gestation are mature enough to survive, although they will need a prolonged period of intensive care. Babies born at less than 23 weeks of gestation are usually not mature enough to survive.

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• • what can happen cuz it premature

• About 12 percent of babies in the United States are born preterm
• born earliest are at greater risk of medical complications, long-term disabilities and death
• All babies born preterm are at risk for serious health problems
• The earlier a child is born, the less she will weigh, the less developed her organs will be, and the more complications she is likely to face.
• their skin may be thin and wrinkled, and their heads may look too large for their bodies.
• and will begin to appear and act more like full-term babies as they continue to develop and grow.
• The causes of preterm labor and PROM are not fully understood,
• triggered by the body’s natural response to certain infections, including infections involving the amniotic fluid and fetal membranes
• often is little the doctor or the pregnant woman can do to prevent preterm labor.
• high risk
• • Has had a previous preterm birth
   
  • Is pregnant with twins, triplets or more
   
  • Has certain uterine or cervical abnormalities
• African-American women, women younger than 17 or older than 35,
• poor women are at greater risk t
• Certain lifestyle and environmental
• late or no prenatal care, smoking, drinking alcohol, using illegal drugs, exposure to the medication diethylstilbestrol (DES), domestic violence (including physical, sexual or emotional abuse), lack of social support, stress, and long working hours with long periods of standing.
• infections
• bleeding from the vagina, certain birth defects in the baby, being pregnant with a single fetus after in vitro
• diabetes, high blood pressure, clotting disorders
• being underweight before pregnancy, obesity, and short time period between pregnancies
• visiting her health care provider before pregnancy and, once pregnant, seeking early and regular prenatal care.
• When a woman receives adequate prenatal care, problems usually can be identified early and treated, to reduce the risk of preterm birth.

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  • 543,000 babies, or 1 in 8, are born prematurely each year.
• Premature birth is the number 1 killer of newborns.
• Premature babies cost ten times more than healthy babies.
• Today more than 1,400 babies in the United States (1 in 8) will be born prematurely. Many will be too small and too sick to go home. Instead, they face weeks or even months in the newborn intensive care unit (NICU). These babies face an increased risk of serious medical complications and death; however, most, eventually, will go home.
• cerebral palsy; mental retardation and learning problems; chronic lung disease; and vision and hearing problems. Half of all neurological disabilities in children are related to premature birth.
• cause is unknown.
• four main routes leading to spontaneous premature labor.
• Infections/Inflammation.
• Maternal or fetal stress.
• Bleeding.
• Stretching.
• lifestyle factors may put a woman at greater risk of preterm labor.
• • Late or no prenatal care
   
  •  Smoking
   
  • Drinking alcohol
   
  • Using illegal drugs
   
  • Exposure to the medication DES
   
  • Domestic violence, including physical, sexual or emotional abuse
   
  • Lack of social support
   
  • Extremely high levels of stress
   
  • Long working hours with long periods of standing
   
  • Exposure to certain environmental pollutants
   
• medical conditions during pregnancy may increase the likelihood that a woman will have preterm labor.
• • Diabetes
   
  • Infections (urinary, vaginal, sexually transmitted; possibly others)
   
  • High blood pressure and preeclampsia
   
  • Clotting disorders (thrombophilia)
   
  • Bleeding from the vagina
   
  • Certain birth defects in the baby
   
  • Being pregnant with a single fetus after in vitro fertilization (IVF)
   
  • Being underweight before pregnancy
   
  • Obesity
   
  • Short time period between pregnancies (less than 6 to9 months between birth and the beginning of the next pregnancy)
   
  • Medical researchers also have identified certain groups of women who are at increased risk of having a premature baby.
• • African-American women
   
  • Women younger than 17 and older than 35
   
  •  Women who have a low income

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