Mental health articles

Usual hospital care of the premature infant If a woman shows signs of going into premature labour, every effort is made to ensure the best outcome for mother and baby. Effort is made to postpone the labour with bed rest and medication, prepare the foetus for delivery with drugs to strengthen the lungs and/or transport the pregnant woman to a maternity hospital with an intensive care (Level 3) nursery to ensure that the premature newborn will receive appropriate care. When a baby is about to be born prematurely a neonatal team is on hand in the delivery to immediately attend to the baby. The extent of immediate intervention is dependent on the condition of the newborn—the basics would be temperature control and ensuring oxygen to the lungs. Infants born less than 28 weeks are more likely to have breathing difficulties that will require ventilation. If born before 35 weeks premature infants have difficulty sucking and swallowing and will probably require artificial feeding, either intravenously or via a nasal tube into the stomach. Once again, it depends on the gestational age and health of the newborn as to which method is appropriate. Conditions that place premature infants at risk are recurrent apnoeic attacks (cessation of breathing), respiratory lung disease, infections, jaundice, intracranial haemorrhage and feeding problems. Apnoeic attacks occur relatively frequently in the first couple of weeks of life in infants born at less than 35 weeks. To avoid negative consequences of this condition, premature infants have their heart rate and breathing constantly monitored.

Tags: infant, premature