Lately, more and more childrenare born by caesarean section. You can argue for a long time about whether this is good or bad - but the fact remains. And very often, a caesarean section is the only chance for a baby to be born relatively healthy. Especially if the baby is in a hurry and decided to meet his parents before the due date. Premature babies after a caesarean section are a very pressing problem. Many parents deny the very idea that their baby, born by caesarean section, is any different from other children. There are many theories that such children are not only not inferior in development, but sometimes even ahead of their peers. However, it will never be superfluous to play it safe. One of the most widespread misconceptions is that being born by caesarean section is the least difficult for a child. And indeed - at first glance it may seem that everything happens very quickly and completely painlessly for the child. But this is not true at all, because natural childbirth is exactly what nature chose. And nature has carefully thought out this process, having provided for all possible nuances. And the child does not suffer at all from passing through the mother's birth canal. Quite the contrary - he experiences vital physiological sensations and emotional impressions. On the eve of birth, significant changes occur in the child's body - nature carries out a kind of preparation. And as a result of these processes, the child is born ready for life outside the mother's body. And this is true even if labor began prematurely - in a few hours the baby's body mobilizes. But in the case of surgical intervention in a premature pregnancy, the baby may be completely unprepared for independent life. It goes without saying that this method of delivery has a very, very negative effect on the child. And in most cases, this cannot but affect the physical condition of the baby. Of course, the way the baby was born means a lot - premature babies are different from those who were born on time and naturally. Although very often parents are absolutely sure that these two groups of children are no different. And indeed, a child, even if premature, has every chance to grow up healthy, develop properly, and be breastfed for a very long time. And in their physical and mental development, "caesarean babies" are in no way inferior to children born naturally. However, such babies need much more attention and care both from the medical staff and, of course, from mom and dad. There are several secrets that will help your baby adapt faster to this world, which is still new to him. Today we will talk about the features of both physical and psychological care for such crumbs. After all, there are several very important things that are very important for a premature baby born by caesarean section. And they should not be ignored under any circumstances.
What to do? Emotional side
The first and most important rule is communication withbaby. Although, in fairness, it should be noted that communication is extremely important for all children, regardless of how they were born and at what stage. But for "caesarean" babies, communication is doubly important - use every opportunity for this. Firstly, emotional and physical contact. Neonatologists recommend stroking the baby from the head to the heels as often as possible. Moreover, the movements should be strong enough, but soft. Stroking should be done twice a day, for about 7 - 10 minutes. Subconsciously, the child will certainly draw an analogy with passing through the birth canal. And this will start certain processes - both in the child's mind and on a physical level. This measure is effective in the first three weeks of the baby's life. By the way, it is also necessary to mention that child psychologists recommend that older babies born by caesarean section play more often thematic games - climb through tunnels. And it is not at all necessary to buy very expensive play complexes - homemade tunnels from chairs and blankets are no less popular with children. Secondly, pay special attention to such an aspect as the child's night sleep. Doctors have reliably established that babies born by cesarean section very often have terrible dreams. Of course, what exactly such a baby can dream about is not known for sure. But the fact remains. Therefore, never leave a sleeping baby alone in the room, at least during the first year of life. Joint night sleep in this case is one of the best options. Waking up, the baby will feel mother's warmth, comfort and peace. This will make life much easier for both the baby and the mother herself. And you can feed the baby right away, without getting out of bed. However, in no case should you forget about safety precautions. At first, doctors recommend putting the baby to sleep if not on a separate children's mattress, then at least under a separate blanket. And during the daytime, try to pick up your baby as often as possible, preferably when the baby is taking air baths. Skin-to-skin contact is very important for the baby: both for physical and emotional development. You will notice a positive result very soon - the baby will stop being capricious, and will sleep much more peacefully. In addition, certain observations allow us to conclude that such children, even as they grow up, feel calmer and more protected. By the way, such children require special attention as they grow up. Despite the fact that the reason is unclear, the fact remains - children born by cesarean section grow up more insecure and cautious than their peers born naturally. Parents should constantly remember this and strengthen their self-confidence. Praise the child for the slightest reason, and sometimes for no reason at all. But with criticism and comments, on the contrary, you should be very careful. But of course, you shouldn't let them sit on your neck. Try to find a "golden mean" so that the child doesn't just start manipulating you.
What to do? Physiological aspect
Now it's time to talk about thosethe body's characteristics that a child has after a cesarean section. In principle, they are equally relevant for both full-term children and those born prematurely. And parents should take these characteristics into account in order to raise a healthy child.
- Breast-feeding
Children born by caesarean section, yeseven earlier than the due date, often gain weight very poorly. And their immune system is often significantly weakened. Therefore, doctors recommend feeding such babies with mother's milk for as long as possible. Of course, organizing breastfeeding is much more difficult than after natural childbirth. But it is quite possible, so the young mother should make every effort to do this, no matter how difficult it is for her at first.
- Swaddling a child
Modern parents, as a rule, preferdo not swaddle the baby at all from the very first day of birth. However, pediatricians strongly recommend swaddling premature babies, as well as those born by caesarean section, at least for the first month. They believe that in swaddling clothes the baby feels about the same as in the womb. And this brings moral satisfaction to the baby.
- Visits to the neurologist and cardiologist
The child must be shown regularlyneurologist. The first examination should be done in the maternity hospital, immediately after the birth of the child. Then it is recommended to see a neurologist every month during the first year of the child's life. But if the parents notice that the child is excessively whiny, especially at night, or the baby's hands and chin start to tremble when calm, they should go to see a neurologist immediately, without putting it off. As a rule, your attending physician - a pediatrician - independently draws up a schedule of visits to a neurologist. In this case, reinsurance is completely justified, because premature babies are at much greater risk of developing pathology of the nervous system.
- Visiting other specialists
One must also not forget about the need to visit andother specialists. Surely the baby was born prematurely, and by caesarean section, for a reason? And the pathologies that the baby had will not go away after birth. And even if the mother's pathologies were the cause, they can also make themselves known, but in the baby. Therefore, if the pediatrician recommends showing the baby to any other doctors, do not ignore them under any circumstances. And do not forget about the cardiologist. All children born prematurely - both naturally and by caesarean section - should be examined by a cardiologist at least three times during the first year of life. Therefore, even if your pediatrician did not give you a referral, ask for one yourself. After all, heart problems noticed in time are most often successfully corrected.
The most common problems
And finally, it is worth telling about somethe most common health problems in premature babies born by caesarean section. Of course, it is not at all necessary that all such babies will have these problems without exception. But it is not for nothing that there is a saying "Forewarned is forearmed". In approximately 70% of all cases, these babies develop hyperactivity syndrome as they grow. Moreover, its peak occurs, oddly enough, in adolescence. And no one even thinks of associating this problem with difficult childbirth. Due to the fact that during a caesarean section there is a sharp drop in pressure between the uterus and the environment, micro hemorrhages in the brain are often observed. And in about half of all cases, the child is born with increased intracranial pressure. Often, such babies are born with iron deficiency anemia and hypoxia. Therefore, it is very important to closely monitor these vital signs in order to notice the problem in time and take the necessary measures as quickly as possible. And remember: the main thing your baby needs is your love! We recommend reading:
