Preterm Child: its development and care for it

Nature accurately calculated the period of development of the fetus of the child. It is 280 days, or 40 weeks. But sometimes there are situations when the child for some reason comes to light earlier, while the body has not fully formed yet.

Premature babies born in the period of pregnancy from 22 to 37 weeks are considered to be premature. If the birth occurred in 38-39 weeks, then there will be no significant differences from the 40-week-old child, except in the body weight. A premature baby has obvious signs of immaturity, which are expressed more strongly with a low weight and a minimal period of prematuredness.

These children have not yet fully formed respiratory, cardiovascular and thermoregulatory systems of the body, without which a full life is simply impossible. That's why a premature baby needs special care to accelerate its maturation.

There is also a category of children born on time, but at the same time having a low weight. Such a process is considered the result of a delay in intrauterine development. Sometimes there are cases when a premature baby born at the 22nd week of pregnancy weighing 500 g is considered viable. It can only be released in specialized hospitals or perinatal centers. The doctor, taking into account the weight of the child, decides to put him in a kuvez, prescribes herbal medicine. It is very important to properly nurse a child with signs of prematurity.

Specialists note that such a child with the purpose of restoring its development must be fed with mother's milk, which contains a large number of vitamins and minerals. Feeding these children has its own characteristics, because the digestive system has not yet 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 breast-feed the baby. In such cases, the doctor will recommend buying mixtures for premature infants.

A premature baby usually has shorter legs and soft ears than the children born on time. 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. He at this stage of his development very much in need of communication with close people, in sensations of warmth and care. Of course, the first hours and days after the birth of the child, doctors will be forbidden to be next to him, because he needs peace and quiet. But still for a while to stay behind the glass chamber to relatives and friends will be allowed.

In a few days, my mother will be able to take her baby in her arms, warm him and establish the closest contact, thus, as it were, prolonging the interrupted intrauterine development. A premature baby will develop mentally and physically more quickly if they talk or sing songs to him, stroking handles and legs.

Baby diapers and clothes for a premature baby need to be sterilized after washing with iron, thoroughly ironing them. Bottles and nipples must be treated with boiling water for a while. The first 1-2 months of a child should be bathed only in warm boiled water. During the bath, so that the premature baby does not subcool, in the room where water procedures are performed, it is better to put the heater.

When caring for a child in the first months after birth, it is very important to avoid temperature changes: this can have a bad effect on his condition. If the baby was born with a weight of at least 1.5 kg, it is very useful for its development to carry out daily gentle gentle massage, which consists in stroking the back, tummy, legs and pens.

The appearance of premature babies in the family is very often alarming for the parents, because with the child it is necessary to carry out serious restoration work. It should be understood that with proper care and rehabilitation, such a child by 2-3 years will not differ from his peers born on time.