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 (Highly recommend) (Highly recommend) (Highly recommend) (Highly recommend) (Highly recommend) 4.64 (Highly recommend) from 19 votes (1839 Visits)

Premature Babies

hermy by hermy Talking Back(March 2007) (rank 46th)

A premature baby is one that is born three weeks or more before the pregnancy has reached full term.

        A premature baby will be;

n      small

n      underweight

n      not fully developed

   

    These babies need special care. These babies can often be saved by putting them in an incubator and giving them intensive medical care.

        A mother may go into early labour due to;

n      vaginal bleeding

n      pre-eclampsia (a condition were there is a build up of fluid in the mothers body,  causing high blood pressure)

n      having to much or to little amniotic fluid

n      inadequate nutrition during pregnancy

n      infections

n      diabetes

n      tobacco, alcohol and drug use

n      multiple pregnancies

               Babies in special care may be unable to suck, they will have to be feed through a plastic tube passed from the nose to the stomach. If they are very premature they may not be able to digest milk, they may need an intravenous drip. Iron and vitamin supplements may be added to the feeds.

               The babies are kept in a sterile environment as they are vulnerable to infection; They may also be given antibiotics to prevent infections. If their lungs are not fully developed they may need  assistance from a ventilator to enable them to breathe.

               Babies in intensive care can be touched and talked to, and babies in special care can be taken out of incubators for feeding and cuddles.

               The dangers faced by premature babies depend on how early the birth is. They may also develop jaundice and anaemia.

               It is common for babies born even three months early to survive and develop normally.

               Regular antenatal care will help to make sure that any problems are spotted and treated. Calling your doctor promptly, if you have any signs, will also enable you to get the best and safest treatment for your condition.

                If you are beginning to go into premature labour you may be given a muscle relaxant drug to prevent this from happening, if the birth is allowed to continue it will be monitored. If you are bleeding very badly you will need a blood transfusion and possibly an emergency c-section, this is to protect the health of your baby and yourself. The premature baby will be treated with special care, according to his/her needs.

              Indications of premature labour include;

n      four or more uterine contractions in one hour

n      pressure on the pelvis

n      abdominal pain

n      vaginal bleeding

                 If you think you are going into premature labour, get in touch with your doctor or hospital immediately, even if it’s a false alarm. If you have vaginal bleeding you should ring your doctor and rest with your feet up while you wait. If bleeding is severe, you should dial for an ambulance.

                  I hope this helps.............

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Izzy
5.00 (Excellent) | September 2007 | Izzy
Re: Premature Babies

My twins are 6 1/2 weeks premature, but I was fortunate enough that the labor was prolonged enough that it was me who was given the 2 shots to mature their lungs and not them. They were very healthy and was breathing on their own and never had to have feeding tubes. They were kept on warmers because they barely had body fat to keep their temps even. Katelyn graduated from the warmer after 3 days or so, but Jordan was kept on longer. And even after she was taken out, she had to be put back in because her temp just dipped down and she couldn't get it back up.

One thing that was so different and was such a shocker for me about preemie babies compared to term babies (my son was born on his due date), was the body fat. My girls didn't even have butts, their tush were all bones.

As far as the signs I felt, it was just an increase in braxton hicks contractions. They were ever so slightly more intense, but that's it. I noticed this for about 2 days and so suspected that things were changing. I was put on medicines to relax the uterus and like clock work, my contractions came back on the 3rd hour of the medicine. It was supposed to be given every 6 hours, but it only worked for me for 3 hours.

Good advice!



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      hermy
September 2007 | hermy
Re: Premature Babies
thank you for your comment Izzy......regards Sandra xxx


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winja
5.00 (Excellent) | September 2007 | winja
Re: Premature Babies
i had a premmie baby born at 23 weeks, he died so when a recent member was caught out in a lie it really hit me rather hard. il never forget him and he taught me alot but il miss him everyday of my life.


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      hermy
5.00 (Excellent) | September 2007 | hermy
Re: Premature Babies
oh.....Nat, not to sure what to say to that cause i am sure i am sorry just doesn't cut it......i miscarried at 10 weeks and that was hard enough, so i can try and relate a bit and feel how you must have felt, mmmmmm.......thank you so much for your comment......regards Sandra xxx


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lexiw
5.00 (Excellent) | September 2007 | lexiw
Re: Premature Babies

You write such great articles amigo Great information

 Lexi xxx

 



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      hermy
5.00 (Excellent) | September 2007 | hermy
Re: Premature Babies
thank you so much Lexi......regards Sandra xxx


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brockmonsta
5.00 (Excellent) | April 2007 | brockmonsta
Prem Babies
My son was 4 & 1/2 weeks premmie, he weighed 4 pound + 12 ounces.  He wasn't breathing at first & spent the first 2 days in a humidicrib with tubes and wires everywhere. He lost more than 10% of his bodyweight in the first week and has a heart murmur. He couldn't suck properly so he was mostly tube fed for the first 14 days.He spent 18 days in special care & then came home a couple of days later.

Your article is very accurate. Great Advice!


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      hermy
5.00 (Excellent) | April 2007 | hermy
Prem Babies
sorry you whent through all that you must have been very stressed.....i hope he is fine now....thank you heaps for your comment....regards Sandra xx


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mum2four
5.00 (Excellent) | April 2007 | mum2four
premmy babies/I just popped out

I too was a premmy baby ,I was born six weeks early .It was a Saturday morning and  pregnancy number 6.My mother had just had a shower while in the shower she thought she felt a funny feeling of water trickling down her leg but was in the shower at the time so she thought nothing of it . But as she was walking to the bedroom I just popped out , no pain nothing she says she thinks she caught me .

As this was 35 years ago my parents didn't have a phone so my father did a mad dash to the phone box to call for an ambulance .My mother just wrapped me up and sat on her bed and waited for the ambulance to arrive.

I was born with a few medical problems and remained in hospital for about 6 weeks,I had a heart problem Patend Ductus Arteriosis  (not sure of spelling lol) apparently a valve to the heart is suppose to shut off when the baby is born but  in my case it never did.I was constantly sick so had to wait until i was strong enough for my body to cope with the operation.So at 5 I had open heart surgery to fix that.

I was also born with congenital hip which at 7 months i was in hospital for six months in traction and  then plaster on both legs from the waste down to my ankles with a bar between my legs for a further 6 months (i think) But I still suffer with hip problem and I am in need of a hip replacement now.

I was also slightly deaf with many ear problems and at 9 had to have my left ear totally reconstructed to gain  some more hearing but still have slight loss of hearing in my left ear.I have also  worn glasses from the age of 5 too.

While  my mother  was pregnant with me  she lost my six month old sister to cot  death(sids) so her body was under enormous stress  emotionally and physically .The Dr believed this is why i was born premmy and that i was  under developed .Because of the fact that I was premmy and so sickly my father did not bond with me as he was frightened of losing another baby.It was a very hard time for my parents as they already had another 3 children .But luckily they got through it and they have been happily married now for 42 yrs and I am still here .

                                                                    Cham



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      hermy
5.00 (Excellent) | April 2007 | hermy
premmy babies/I just popped out
oh cham.....you poor thing that sounds like a lot to go trough.....i'm happy to hear your parents got through it and by the sounds of it so did you .......all the best from me xx  and thank you for sharing this with me...regards  Sandra....


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tassiebiarch
5.00 (Excellent) | April 2007 | tassiebiarch
prem baby

i was born 4 weeks early weighing 4pound 9 and i was fine from when i came out and i have been fine so far i am a short A$%# lol but apart from that i am fine never sick so i think that it depends

my 3 child was 4 weeks(weighing 6 pound 7 which is big for then they reckon he would of been 11 pound full term ouch lol) prem and was in neo natal for 10 days on a feeding tube as he could not suck he had to learn they said to me that its better if a baby is born at 5 weeks prem than 4 weeks. he has only been sick twice since being out of hospital he is now 2 and i hope he will be healthy for the rest of his life



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      hermy
April 2007 | hermy
prem baby
my daughter was born 4 weeks early too....they had to give her a needle to speed up the development of her lungs she was never to sick just the usual childhood things, thank goodness....thank you for your comment....


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mumof1girl
5.00 (Excellent) | April 2007 | mumof1girl
i was a prem baby

 

I was a prem baby. Born a month early. My mum said to me i was in a humid crib for a month and i was so under weight, and so skinny. Needed oxygen all the time and had a tube in my nose. I couldn't go home for about 5 weeks until i put on some weight.

I was on milk ( M for Milk i think it was called back then 33 years ago ) and once i got home, i was a little better.

I was on milk for a whole year as my insides had to catch up to the rest of my body, and started solids when i was about 15 months old and still couldn't digest alot of food as it went straight through me, and came out the other end as it went in.

When i was 18 months old, i was eating better, and by 2 years i was eating way better, and eating mostly everything i could.

I still have today alot of trouble with my stomach, and can't eat that much, and i can't handle drinking plain milk as it makes me sick. I have to have flavoured milk, and i can't handle that too much. If i drink too much milk, i get really sick.

People think prem babies get over it about their tummies etc being under developed but it does still effect us in a small way when we're older.

 



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      mumof1girl
5.00 (Excellent) | April 2007 | mumof1girl
i was a prem baby

Just to add, i'm also a short person, and it's believed that being a prem baby it stunts your growth a little bit. My whole family is tall, brothers are 6 foot 2 and 6 foot 4, and parent's are just under the 6 foot range, and there's me at 5 foot 5 and tubbyish. Sorry it's sooooooo long, but being a prem baby, i have asked my mum a million questions on the subject.



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           hermy
April 2007 | hermy
i was a prem baby
thats sad to hear ....i suppose it effects everybody differently....thank you for your comment.....


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nell18-3
5.00 (Excellent) | March 2007 | nell18-3
No Prems for me
Mine were all totally overcooked
But great advice
xxx


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      hermy
March 2007 | hermy
No Prems for me
thank you.....i know there isnt much that can be said about being over i can imagine the feeling, i couldnt wait till they were out at about 6-7 months......


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madchanny
5.00 (Excellent) | March 2007 | madchanny
thanks
i was sooo scared i would have a prem birth (but i got the over cooked kid), my poor sister had to do it at 3.5 months prem, Tamika was born and lived for 5 months and 1 day she weighed at 580 grams. She had alot of respratory probs... But even though it has been just over 6 years, there have been so many breakthroughs with keeping a premmie born so small able to live a normal, long life.

xx channy


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      hermy
March 2007 | hermy
thanks
iam so sorry to hear that, that makes me really sad......personally i think they should all make it .....but yes they are getting better and better with it....happy everything went well with your baby.....all the best and thank you


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