Nature accurately calculated the period of development of the fetus of the child. It is 280 days, or 40 weeks. But sometimes situations arise when a child, for some reason, comes into the world earlier, while his body has not yet fully formed.
Premature babies are those born during pregnancy from 22 to 37 weeks. If the birth occurred at 38-39 weeks, then there will be no significant differences from a 40-week-old baby, except in body weight. A premature baby has obvious signs of immaturity, which are more pronounced with low weight and a minimum term of prematurity.
In such children, the respiratory, cardiovascular and thermoregulatory systems of the body are not yet fully formed, without which a full life is simply impossible. That is why a premature baby so needs special care aimed at accelerating its maturation.
There is also a category of children born on time, but at the same time having low weight. Such a process is considered the result of intrauterine growth retardation. Sometimes there are cases when a premature baby born at 22 weeks of gestation with a weight of 500 g is considered viable. It can only be accessed in specialized hospitals or perinatal centers. The doctor, taking into account the weight of the child, makes the decision to place him in a couveuse, prescribes herbal medicine. It is very important to properly feed a baby with signs of prematurity.
Experts note that in order to restore its development, such a child must be fed breast milk, which contains a large amount of vitamins and minerals. Feeding these children has its own characteristics, because their digestive system has not yet been formed, and the sucking reflex can be very weak. Therefore, the child needs to be fed often, but in small portions. There may be reasons why the mother will not be able to breastfeed. In such cases, the doctor will recommend purchasing a mixture for premature babies.
A premature baby usually has shorter legs and softer auricles than babies born on time. The subcutaneous fat layer in such children is completely absent. Therefore, in such cases, it is necessary to carry out special care for the premature baby. At this stage of his development, he very much needs to communicate with loved ones, in feelings of warmth and care. Of course, in the first hours and days after the birth of a child, doctors will forbid being near him, because he needs peace and quiet. But nevertheless, relatives and relatives will definitely be allowed to stay behind the glass of the house for some time.
In a few days, the mother will already be able to pick up her baby, warm him and establish the closest contact, thus prolonging the interrupted intrauterine development. A premature baby will develop faster mentally and physically if they talk to him or sing songs to him, stroking his arms and legs.
Baby diapers and clothes for a premature baby should always be sterilized with an iron after washing, ironing them carefully. Bottles and nipples need to be treated with boiling water for some time. The first 1-2 months of the baby should be washed only in warm boiled water. During bathing, so that the premature baby does not get too cold, it is better to put a heater in the room where the water procedures are performed.
When caring for a baby in the first months after birth, it is very important to avoid temperature extremes: this can adversely affect his condition. If the baby was born with a weight of at least 1.5 kg, then it is very useful for its development to conduct a gentle gentle massage daily, which consists of stroking the back, tummy, legs and arms.
The appearance of premature babies in the family very often causes anxiety among parents, because serious restoration work is necessary with the child . You need to understand that with proper care and rehabilitation, such a child by 2-3 years will not be any different from his peers born on time.