Premature Babies

By Kasehehr Caferir


Premature babies often come into this world with respiratory distress syndrome also known as RDS, this is because the protein that is known as surfactant is necessary to keep the air sacs in the lung working and premature babies lack this, so you can well imagine that this is a huge problem. Doctors give the babies surfactant to make up for what they lack naturally and to fix the breathing problem. Babies with RDS need a respirator in order for them to breathe. Sometimes they have problems breathing for up to 20 seconds at a time, breathing is often stimulated by touching the bottom of the feet or gently patting it.

Sometimes premature babies have apnea this condition will stop breathing for at least 20 seconds, breathing will have to be stimulated by touching the sole of each foot or through gentle patting.

These hemorrhages are often very mild and don't cause much damage, however there are times when it becomes quite severe and ventricles in the brain expand causing pressure on the brain leading to brain damage that may cause learning disabilities and cerebral palsy. A tube is often placed in the brain that will drain the fluid, however sometimes the use of medication causes the fluid to recede.

Premature babies may also have a heart condition known as patent ductus arteriosis (PDA). Before babies are born there is an artery called the ductus arteriosus whose job it is to let the blood bypass the babies developing lung in the uterus because in the womb the baby gets oxygen through the placenta, instead of the lungs. Babies with this condition are usually given medications that seal the ductus, sometimes surgery is used to close the ductus, in case the medications do not work.

Jaundice is sometimes a problem because the infants liver is not fully developed, this liver development occurs in the last trimester, premature babies have not had enough time in the womb and so they lack this development. Sometimes a dangerous substance call bilirubin develops and phototherapy must be used to remove it. Anemia is very prevalent in premature babies as the third trimester is when babies store iron to use for making red blood cells, because the infant is premature not enough time has been had to store up this reserve of iron, so doctors usually give the baby iron supplements and then drugs which cause red blood cells to develop are given.

It should be no surprise that anemia is another problem for babies who are born prematurely. Babies store iron in the last three months inside the womb. So if the infant has not had time to develop, then of course these iron reserves become low. This can cause premature babies to have stunted growth. This problem, however can be easily corrected by letting the baby take iron supplements, medications will also be given to aid in the development of red blood cells.




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