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Premature
Babies
What is a premature
baby?
Premature babies are defined as those
born between twenty four and thirty seven weeks of gestation. The chances
of survival for a baby born before twenty four weeks of pregnancy are rather
slim. Premature babies are even more vulnerable than full-term babies and
need to be treated with special care. These tiny, frail creatures are often
born with problems, as many of their faculties are not fully developed.
What are the problems
associated with premature babies?
The common problems associated with
premature babies are:
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Respiratory distress syndrome. Premature
babies have difficulty in gas exchange as a result of protein and fluid
collection within the small air sacs and the collapse of the sacs themselves.
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Difficulty in feeding because of weakness.
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Greater likelihood of contracting jaundice
and increased vulnerability to its effects.
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More susceptible to infection.
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Congenital defects, including those
that affect the heart.
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Danger of bleeding in the brain leading
to the development of hydrocephalus (dilatation of the fluid-filled cavities
or ventricles in the brain).
These babies are so fragile that
doctors must tread gingerly when it comes to taking care of them. Sometimes
the solution can lead to a further problem. There have been cases of a
baby's lung been blown out or scarred as a result of over-inflation of
the lung by a respirator. Oxygen therapy has been known to cause blindness
or impaired vision in these premature babies.
The smaller and less mature the premature
baby is at birth, the greater will be its problems in the long run. These
babies can develop cerebral palsy, mental retardation, learning disorders,
and vision, speech and hearing problems.
Premature babies
require special care
Premature babies are put straight
into intensive care. They are usually kept in incubators. They require
round-the-clock nursing. They are fed intravenously and sometimes put on
the respirator to help them breathe if necessary. Their vital signs like
blood pressure, heart rate, breathing and pulse are closely monitored.
Premature babies are kept in intensive care till the doctors are of the
opinion that they are out of danger. Even after they have been discharged
from the hospital, these babies will require periodic evaluations from
paediatricians, neonatologists, ophthalmologists and psychologists to nip
any problems that crop up in the bud.
A life and death
decision
If premature labour could not be
arrested, the next best thing the doctors can do is to make sure that these
frail babies survive and have a normal life as far as possible. The advances
in neonatal care have increased the chances of survival of premature babies.
The catch is that the babies that survive are often severely handicapped.
Faced with a tiny, sick, premature baby, doctors are in a quandary whether
to do their utmost to ensure the baby's survival or let nature take its
course. While the baby may survive there is no guaranteeing the quality
of her life. She may be physically or mentally handicapped. At the same
time, it is very difficult for both parents and doctors to take a decision
to let the baby die.
The doctors can help the parents
make an informed decision about their baby's life. The pros and cons of
her survival should be discussed threadbare because whichever way the decision
goes there is no turning back. Parents should also keep in mind that deciding
to save the baby could be a cruel decision if the baby is going to be severely
handicapped. In addition, they should consider how caring for a handicapped
child could exact a terrible toll on their lives. They will also need to
think about who will look after the child if they are not around any longer.
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