Coping with a premature baby

Oct 15, 2020

A premature baby is one born before 37 weeks. A baby born between 28 to 37 weeks can survive, provided appropriate care is provided; the organs would have fully developed.

Joseling was healthy and believed she would carry her pregnancy to term, but at seven months, her waters broke. She was rushed to hospital where she was induced and gave birth to a premature baby.

Dr. Jolly Nankunda, a paediatrician, defines a premature baby as one born before 37 weeks. A baby born between 28 to 37 weeks can survive, provided appropriate care is provided. At this stage, the baby is big enough and the organs would have fully developed.

 Causes 
Dr. Daniel Zaake, an obstetrician/gynaecologist at Nsambya Hospital, says other risk factors can predispose a premature birth. Diseases such as high blood pressure, malaria, diabetes, sickle cell, heart diseases and uterine tract infections can cause a pre-term birth.

Premature rupture of membranes, due to abnormal presentations of a baby in the womb or due to an infection, can cause premature birth.

"Underlying illnesson a mother's part can compel a doctor to deliver a baby before nine months in order to save the mother and child," Zaake says, adding that failure of the cervix to hold a baby can also cause a pre-term birth.

This occurs when the cervix opens before 37 weeks and when the placenta attaches itself to the lower part of the uterus or separates before the due date, resulting in bleeding.

Multiple pregnancies can also cause the uterus to stretch and open before the due date. Excessive vomiting also causes mineral imbalance, leading to premature birth as well as faetal abnormalities where the organs do not develop properly. Other causes are poor nutrition, anaemia, smoking, alcohol, shock and tremor in form of an accident.

You cannot predict whether your baby will be born premature

 Signs 
Nankunda says it is difficult to predict signs of a potential premature birth. She says some pregnancies associated with illnesses like diabetes and high blood pressure are delicate and in most cases end up in pre-term labour.

Premature rupture of membranes, excessive uterine activity (in intervals of 10 minutes or more and not subsiding within 30 minutes) before 37 weeks and bleeding are some of the signs.

However, attending at least five antenatal visits can help obstetricians detect complications and screen for infections.

The cervix should be stitched at the third or fourth month, and expectant mothers should avoid long bus trips during the second trimester. Premature babies are prone to infection because their immunity is not fully developed.



 How to care for premature babies 

-Safeguarding against infection
-Keep the environment clean
-Wash your hands before touching the baby
-Limit exposure of the baby to other people
-Keep the baby clothed and confine them indoors because they become cold easily         

-Keep them skin to skin (kangaroo style) in the upright position between the mother's breasts for warmth, which aids their growth.                                                              -Give little feeds at a time but more frequently, every after two hours, because a premature's stomach capacity is small.

Coping with a premature baby is a challenge, but a mother should consult a doctor to understand the condition.


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