Parents of little children who rushed to see thisworld, always worried about the question - will the development of the baby lag behind? Care for children born in the early stages is quite difficult, but quite feasible. Medical patronage, full observation and consultation of children, as well as the desire of parents to help their baby can significantly reduce the resonance picture. Premature birth of children changes the beginning of development, but it will take very little time and the differences will become a thing of the past. A premature baby is born between the 28th and 37th week. It weighs no more than 2.5 kilograms. Four levels of prematurity are recognized, and the care and development of babies should occur exactly in accordance with the required level:
- I - from 2500 to 2000 grams;
- II - from 2000 to 1500 grams;
- III - from 1500 to 1000 grams;
- IV - less than 1000 grams.
Causes of premature births
To identify the causes of premature birthsquite difficult, since in most cases they are not isolated, but combined with each other. However, often factors that have already developed over many years, both socio-economic or biological, and clinical, are determined. So, what are the causes of premature birth?
- Improper living conditions of a pregnant woman. The main reasons can serve: untimely appeal for medical help, poorly balanced diet, lack of normal living conditions;
- Harmful and hard work. A woman should remember that according to the labor code of the Russian Federation, she has the right to apply to a higher-level management for a transfer to light work;
- It is aggravated by all and dangerous habits of habits: smoking, alcohol abuse, and especially, the use of narcotic drugs;
- The same reason can be in too late pregnancy, or at a very young age of the girl;
- The presence of a woman in the past medical or spontaneous abortion;
- Various clinical factors, which are the chronic diseases of the mother. Perhaps the existence of problems of the endocrine system, nervous shocks during pregnancy;
- On the part of the fetus, genetic or chromosomal diseases and, as an option, an immunological conflict with the mother are also possible.
Preventing premature birth
Remember that in most casesPreventive measures help to avoid the premature birth of the baby. The causes of premature birth, as is clear from the above, are removable. Following all the advice and recommendations of your gynecologist will help you wait until the due date of birth of the baby. If for some reason the gynecologist suggests you to be hospitalized in order to preserve the pregnancy, you should not refuse it - the health of the baby cannot be jeopardized. The threat of premature birth in the maternity ward of the hospital is eliminated very quickly. Doctors will try to prolong the pregnancy as much as possible, because a premature seven-month baby has a much better chance of normal development than a baby born in the fifth month of pregnancy. Any pregnant woman should know about the signs of premature birth, so as not to miss the first alarm bells and seek medical help as soon as possible. You should definitely seek help if:
- A pregnant woman has regular pulling pains in the lower abdomen or in the lumbar region;
- Constantly damp underwear - there is a possibility of leakage of amniotic fluid;
- Sharp painful sensations;
- A sharp headache, dizziness.
Physiological formation of premature babies
At birth, all children lose weight, whichmuch more noticeable if the baby was born prematurely. Such a child can lose up to 15 percent of body weight. Weight loss greatly affects the body's thermoregulation, so the baby needs careful warming conditions. For this, the incubator method is used, it is quite effective, since it allows you to create all the necessary physiological conditions for the life and development of a premature baby. By the way, if you have the opportunity to seek help from a specialized maternity hospital specializing in premature births, try to do so. In such medical institutions, nursing premature babies is common, and all medical personnel have the necessary skills. But even if you do not have such an opportunity, do not panic. An incubator for premature babies is available in any maternity hospital, due to which the survival rate of babies is quite high. The exact way the baby is born depends on many factors and medical indicators. Remember that deeply premature babies after a cesarean section have a much better chance of survival and successful further development. This is explained by the fact that children with extremely low body weight may simply not survive the process of passing through the birth canal.
The first year of life
The incubator creates a suitable environment forexistence, which helps the baby not to waste a lot of energy during breathing, especially in the case of deeply premature babies. And if the child is born healthy, his further weight gain in the coming months will be equal to the norm. Developing quickly enough, as if trying to catch up with his peers, a premature baby gains weight quite well, already doubling his weight in a couple of months. By the age of one, the weight value can increase sixfold. Having a low weight at birth, the baby will gain it faster in the first year of life. A similar picture can be observed if you pay attention to growth. In the first year of life, the baby grows by about 40 centimeters. And adding 2 centimeters each subsequent year, by the age of five he will no longer be very different from his peers. The respiratory organs, the organs of the root nervous system, the shape of the skull in premature babies have inappropriate values. Therefore, doctors recommend carefully monitoring the increase in head circumference in the first year of life.
- In the first month up to 6 cm;
- The second month is 2-3 cm;
- On the third month, 2 cm;
- From the fourth to the sixth months to 1 cm;
- Next - about a centimeter every month.
Mental and motor-motor development
Psychomotor development and skillsmost children born early appear later than full-term babies. The development of premature babies by month depends on the degree of prematurity of the baby. The lag differs by the level of prematurity: at level I-II - development equalizes by one year; at level III-IV - by 3 years. Starting from four months, premature babies hold their heads more firmly when lying on their tummies. And closer to six months - vertically. Emotional development begins already from five months - premature babies distinguish strangers from relatives, begin to take a toy that adults offer them, determine the source of a sound. Closer to eight months, children develop mobility in a horizontal position. The baby can turn on his tummy, from his tummy to his back, try to crawl. Then he learns to sit, lie down, get up on his own. Such children begin to try to eat without the help of adults no earlier than 11-12 months. During the same period, the skill of accuracy also comes.
Feeding preterm baby
Premature babies have a much lowerbody weight than those born on time. And their body is forced to develop at a faster pace than their peers. But here you need to look at the problem from the other side - premature babies have an immature digestive system, both the sucking and swallowing reflexes are not well developed. Also, insufficient production of saliva, which is typical for premature babies, can become an obstacle to the normal digestion process. And the capacity of the stomach is not as large as that of babies born on time, so they spit up much more often. Due to reduced secretion of gastric juice, breast milk is not fully digested. Some maternity hospitals practice feeding premature babies with artificial mixtures. Discuss this issue with pediatricians in advance. When deciding how exactly to feed a premature baby, remember that the most useful and complete nutrition is breast milk. Try to maintain breastfeeding by any means possible. As a rule, this can be done in most cases - there would be a desire. Even if the child was born so weak that he cannot eat independently and is fed through a tube, he can be fed with expressed milk.
Rehabilitation period
And here comes the premature birth and nursingthe little crumbs are left behind. The natural worries of doctors and mom and dad have also gone into oblivion. Your baby, who hurried to be born, has gained the necessary body weight, acquired the skills necessary for life - breathing, crying, sucking. Of course, all parents are extremely concerned about such a question as the rehabilitation of premature babies. It is worth noting that in uncomplicated cases no special rehabilitation program is required - nature will do everything itself. The most important condition that parents must comply with is timely and regular monitoring of the child in the clinic. And very soon your baby will be no different from his peers! We advise you to read:
