Our Baby News

WHAT HAPPENS TO PREMATURE BABIES?

Doctors today talk more of pre-term babies (ones born before 38 weeks) than premature babies.

Prematurity is defined by weight; a baby under 2-5 kilogrammes (5 1/2 pounds) is treated as premature whatever the length of the pregnancy which produced him. However the point must be made that length of pregnancy is most important – a baby who is small but was in the uterus for the full term is less of a worry to the doctors than a bigger one born before term.

The causes of pre-term births are many, and not always understood. Twins (and triplets or more) are usually pre-term. Preeclampsia can lead to a pre-term baby as can problems of the placenta during development. If the placenta lies between the baby and the opening of the birth canal, this means delivery is very difficult – the condition is called placenta praevia – and in a few cases the placenta may separate from the wall of the uterus. In this case early caesarian section may be needed and so the baby may be pre-term. Other causes may include illness in the mother,such as anaemia, or fibroids in the uterus.

If it is possible to delay a pre-term birth, the doctors will do so – with bed-rest and sedation and in a few cases with hormone treatment, and sometimes with alcohol, given in an intravenous drip. In other cases it is not possible to do this, and in some, of course, the pre-term delivery is deliberate, for example in severe pre-eclampsia.

Right from birth! In fact for the first three days the breasts produce the same substance that has been made during pregnancy – a thick yellowish material called colostrums. It is rich in many vital substances, including antibodies which help protect the baby against all sorts of infections, as well as foodstuffs, and the baby gains much benefit from it. In the past this used to be considered ‘bad’ for the baby, but we now know better, and breastfeeding is started as soon as possible.

On the third day after the birth the milk comes in – sometimes with quite a rush. The mother may wake up in the morning to find her breasts firm and upright because they are so full of milk. It is ‘thinner’ to look at than colostrums and cows’ milk, being slightly blue in tinge, but it is not poor milk. Because of its slightly bluish colour some people think the milk is inadequate for the baby, but this is never true. Breast milk is the best food for a human baby, and is perfectly balanced to give the ideal mixture of nutrients. The mother’s breasts even produce milk of varying content, in terms of foodstuffs, at different stages of each feed, so that the baby gets exactly what he needs.

During pregnancy preparation for successful breastfeeding can be made. In the ante-natal clinic the midwives will teach mothers how to keep their nipples supple and after the birth the ward midwives will do all they can to help mothers establish a happy feeding partnership.

Hearing Problem?

Approximately 25 thousand babies are born in the U. S. each year with moderate to severe hearing problems. It used to be a difficult test to perform (and interpret), but no longer. A small speaker is placed in the ear, and a sensor is attached to the scalp to measure the electrical response in the brain.

If baby fails, the test is generally repeated in a few weeks. A second failure is followed by complete diagnostic testing.

The sooner a problem is identified, the sooner it can be treated with hearing aids or a cochlear implant. The sooner treatment begins, the better the outcome will be.

A newborn should startle to loud noises or awaken from sleep. A two- to four-month-old should respond to (and recognize) your voice and make her own sounds—just for the pleasure of it. If your baby doesn’t fit this description, go to your doctor with your concerns.

Demystifying Breastfeeding

All mothers and babies should have the opportunity to have skin-to-skin contact straight after birth. This will keep your baby close, warm and calm, and it will steady their breathing.

The art of breastfeeding combines emotional commitment, patience, and experience (your own or a helper).

In a nutshell, though, the important, indisputable facts about die benefits of breastfeeding are as follows:

• Better absorption of nutrients, such as iron, protein, and sugars, than any formula

• Almost no risk of allergy

Day Care Choice

Out-of-home childcare choices are far different than at-home choices. A good program is designed to meet your baby’s developmental needs and provides opportunities to learn and grow with other same-age babies. Contrary to what was once commonly believed, babies as young as a year do gain socialization skills as they play in parallel with each other.