baby - Special Considerations for the Premature Baby

Every parent hopes and prays that their newborn will be healthy and safe. Normally a pregnancy lasts nine months. The gestation of a full term pregnancy is traditionally between 37 to 42 weeks. Any baby born before 37 weeks is considered premature. Premature Babies face many challenges that full term babies often escape. This includes the possibility of being born with organs that are underdeveloped. Many premature babies have respiratory problems, as the lungs are generally one of the last organs to develop completely during gestation. Fortunately modern technology has provided hospitals with the ability to care for infants born prematurely. In times of old infants born before 34 weeks faced many challenges, and were much more likely to die. Modern technology has allowed babies born as early as 26 weeks to still survive. There are several factors which might contribute to a mother's likelihood of having a premature infant. These include the following: Having delivered a premature baby before, which increases your risk up to 40% Multiple gestations - the parents of twins generally face delivering prematurely Diabetes Smoking High Blood Pressure Pre-eclampsia - a condition in the mother experiences high blood pressure and edema, normally resulting from a buildup of toxins in the body Malnutrition Accident or injury Fetal Distress Some premature babies have to stay in the hospital for several weeks after birth, until they are strong enough to venture home with mom and dad. Babies born before 34 weeks are often given steroids to help the lungs mature, in the hope that respiratory problems might be minimized. Some premature babies are too weak when born to suckle at mother's breast. Moms however are still encouraged to place their premature infant at their chests. Studies show that babies who have skin to skin contact when born prematurely are more likely to thrive and gain weight faster than those who are not. Mothers who give birth to a premature baby sometimes have to pump for the first few weeks in order to establish an adequate milk supply. If you find this is the case, you might consider renting a hospital grade pump to allow for optimal milk supply maintenance. Premature babies can be fed breast milk through a bottle. Premature babies will benefit from having the antibody rich milk from their mother's breast. Some babies born after 34 weeks require little extra assistance. Many leave the hospital after a few days, though the majority of babies born prematurely are not discharged until a time near their original due date. Signs that your baby is thriving include the ability to eat and a regular pattern of weight gain. The hospital staff will also take great care to ensure your baby is breathing well on his own. Some infants are born with a condition called jaundice, and are placed under special bilirubin lights to help the body break up the materials causing jaundice. All newborns are at risk for infection because their immune systems need time to properly mature. This is even more so the case for premature infants. Many physicians recommend that you not take your infant into public/crowded places until they are at minimum three months old, to reduce the likelihood that they will catch a potentially life threatening cold. Many babies born prematurely eventually catch up to their peers within a year. Thanks to modern technology a majority of babies born prematurely will do just as well as those born at or around their due date. Adriana Copaceanu is a busy mom of 2. Visit her Busy Moms Online if you are looking for ways to maximize your precious time. And if you are a new mom, you'll find everything you need to know at her Baby's First Year website. Article Source:http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Adriana_Copaceanu baby - Preparing for a Second Child: Tips to Ease the Transition from One Child to Two You know you should prepare for your second baby's arrival. But how? The What to Expect books that captivated you before now make your eyes glaze over. You don't need, or want, much new gear. And the first baby taught you that children sabotage the best-laid plans. However, taking a few steps now can help ease the transition from one child to two. Prepare yourself, your marriage and your firstborn to welcome your second baby with the following strategies. *Encourage brotherly love. Talking to siblings about the new baby is important. But some of the big sister and big brother books are negative, preparing firstborns for jealousy, tantrums and strife. Be positive in introducing the new baby. Discuss how you'll bathe, dress and diaper her together. *Take a labor and delivery class. You think you remember everything. (How could a woman forget?) But I was amazed at how much new information surfaced in my second childbirth class - and how much I had to brush up on just two years after the birth of my first. *Negotiate daddy care. Be specific about your husband's future role; consider what has and hasn't worked with your first child. Have dad assume more duties with your firstborn now. It will be easier later if he knows the ropes. *Purchase a double stroller. Your toddler may be big enough to walk, but he'll stage a sit-down strike when you stroll baby sister. Buy a double stroller if your firstborn is under age 4. The front-to-back ones are easier to maneuver through doors. *Get organized. One child is a relationship. Two is a small business. Make sure you've got a good planner. PDAs like the Palm can program events to repeat each week, which is great for scheduling kids' activities. *Consider preschool. School can provide the big brother to a new baby with a welcome world of his own, while offering you time alone with your second child. Start classes before the baby arrives so your older child won't feel like he's being shipped out because of his new sibling. *Upgrade your tote. Forget the sleek designer diaper bag. Function trumps form as the family grows. Get a bag with pockets on the outside so you can grab the rattle and the juice box before the stoplight turns green. *Request a gift. Not for the baby. For you! First-time moms get big showers. Women expecting the second child often get ignored. Ask for a pretty bathrobe, a bracelet or something else that will fit despite those extra pounds. *Relax. Newborns sleep a lot and don't steal siblings' toys. Chaos doesn't really set in until the second child becomes mobile. Early on parents often enjoy a honeymoon period. Prepare to savor those baby moments - they're even sweeter the second time around! (c) 2006 Jennifer Bingham Hull. 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