What parents need to know about taking care of a premature baby

Infants who are born prematurely are those born before 37 weeks gestation. Multiple births, such as twins, triplets, or more, frequently occur early. Parents should be aware of how to take care of a premature infant in situations like these and others.

The World Health Organization estimates that 15 million babies are born prematurely each year. Among those, one million suffer fatal consequences from preterm birth. Also, the majority of the babies who survive have cognitive and physical impairments. Moreover, they may experience sensory issues including poor hearing or vision.

Premature births occur when contraction happens between 20 and 37 weeks of the pregnancy and others are due to pregnancies complications such as high blood pressure and autoimmune disorders among others.

A well-balanced diet plays a huge role in healthy pregnancies, research shows that a diet that contains nuts, seeds, fish, and seed oils reduces the risk of premature birth.

Expectant mothers should avoid drugs such as smoking and drinking, this reduces risks of preterm baby 

Mothers to be should regularly seek prenatal care to monitor the baby’s and the mother’s health and progress. Those with history of premature births should see a doctor on the regular.

Although having a premature baby can be traumatising for the mother, infant have a high chance of survival if the mother delivers in the hospital. Premature babies are smaller and weigh less, in modern health facilities they can be monitored in a neonatal intensive care unit.

When a premature baby is born, the skin will be almost translucent, and blood vessels can be visible, making them susceptible to cold and other illness, and must be placed in an incubator.

 According to World Health Organization, most preterm babies can be saved through feasible, cost-effective measures including quality care before, during and after childbirth, prevention and management of common infections, and kangaroo mother care which is a prolonged contact between the mother and the child.

The WHO recommendations for care of the preterm indicate that Kangaroo mother care significantly improves a preterm baby’s chances of survival. It also promotes healthy weight gain, regulates heart rate and breathing, and promotes better sleep. For mothers, KMC also reduces the risk of postnatal depression and increase the amount of breast milk produced.

Breastfeeding is strongly recommended to improve health outcomes for preterm and low birthweight babies, with evidence showing it reduces infection risks compared to infant formula. Mother’s milk contains a specialized cocktail of highly beneficial nutrients for preterm infants.

Infant formulas are safe and nutritious but don’t contain the antibodies and immune boosters that naturally occur in breast milk. If you can’t breastfeed, consider a wet nurse or donor milk.