- What tests does the premature baby need to do
- When to vaccinate the premature baby
- How to care for your premature baby at home
- How to avoid breathing problems in the premature
- How to ensure the correct temperature for the premature
- How to decrease the risk of infections in the premature baby
- How to feed the premature baby
Usually the premature baby stays in the neonatal ICU until he is able to breathe alone, weigh more than 2 kg and develop the suction reflex, so that some babies may be hospitalized longer than others.
After this period, the premature baby can go home with the parents and can be treated similarly to full-term babies. However, if the baby has some kind of health problem, the parents must adapt the care according to the doctor's instructions.
See the most important baby care at: What to do to take care of the newborn at home.
What tests does the premature baby need to do
During hospitalization in the neonatal ICU, the premature baby will undergo constant tests to ensure that it is developing properly and to diagnose problems early, which when treated, can be definitively cured. Thus, the exams usually include:
- Heel prick test: a small prick is made on the preterm's heel to draw blood and test for the presence of some health problems such as phenylketonuria or cystic fibrosis. Learn more: Little foot test. Hearing tests: are performed in the first 2 days after birth to assess whether there are developmental problems in the baby's ears; Blood tests: they are done during the ICU stay to assess the oxygen levels in the blood, helping to diagnose problems in the lungs or heart, for example; Vision examinations: they are done shortly after the birth of the premature to assess the presence of problems such as retinopathy or strabismus of the retina and must be done until 9 weeks after birth to ensure that the eye is developing correctly; Ultrasound exams: they are done when the pediatrician suspects changes in the heart, lungs or other organs to diagnose the problem and start the appropriate treatment.
In addition to these tests, the premature baby is also physically assessed every day, the most important parameters being weight, head size and height.
When to vaccinate the premature baby
The premature baby's vaccination program should only be started when the baby is over 2Kg and, therefore, the BCG vaccine should be postponed until the baby reaches that weight.
Know when to give other vaccinations: Baby vaccination schedule.
However, in cases where the mother has hepatitis B the pediatrician may decide to have the vaccination before the baby reaches 2 kg. In these cases, the vaccine should be divided into 4 doses instead of 3, with the second and third doses doses should be taken one month apart and the fourth, six months after the second.
How to care for your premature baby at home
Caring for a premature baby at home can be a challenge for parents, especially when the baby has a respiratory or developmental problem. However, most care is similar to that of full-term babies, the most important of which are related to breathing, risk of infection and feeding.
How to avoid breathing problems in the premature
During the first 6 months of life there is an increased risk of respiratory problems, especially in premature babies, as the lungs are still developing. One of the most common problems is Sudden death syndrome, which is caused by asphyxiation during sleep.
To reduce this risk, you should:
- Always lay the baby on its back, touching the baby's feet against the bottom of the cradle; Use light sheets and blankets in the baby's crib; Avoid using a cushion in the baby's crib; Keep the baby's crib in the parents' room until, at least less, 6 months old; Do not fall asleep with the baby in bed or on the sofa; Avoid having heaters or air conditioning near the baby's crib.
In addition, if the baby has some type of respiratory problem, it is important to follow the instructions provided in the maternity hospital by the pediatrician or nurses, which may include making nebulizations or administering nose drops, for example.
How to ensure the correct temperature for the premature
The premature baby has more difficulty in keeping his body temperature controlled and, therefore, he can get cold quickly after bathing or become very hot when he has a lot of clothes, for example.
See how to dress in: How to dress the baby.
So, it is recommended to keep the house at a temperature between 20 and 22ºC and dress the baby with several layers of clothes, so that one can be removed when the room temperature gets warmer or add another layer of clothes, when the day gets colder.
How to decrease the risk of infections in the premature baby
Premature babies have a poorly developed immune system and, therefore, in the first months of age they have an increased risk of infection. However, there are some precautions that help to decrease the chances of infections arising, which include:
- Wash your hands after changing diapers, before preparing food and after going to the bathroom; Ask visitors to wash their hands before being in contact with the premature baby; Try to avoid too many visits to the baby during the first 3 months; Avoid going with the baby to crowded places, like shopping centers or parks, for the first 3 months; keep pets away from the baby for the first few weeks.
So the best environment to avoid infections is to stay at home, as it is an easier environment to control. However, if it is necessary to leave, preference should be given to places with fewer people or at times that are more empty.
How to feed the premature baby
In order to properly feed the premature baby at home, parents usually receive teaching at the maternity hospital, as it is common for the baby to not be able to breastfeed alone on the mother's breast, needing to be fed through a small tube in a technique called relactation. See how it is done: How to do the contact.
However, when the baby is already able to hold the mother's breast, it can be fed directly from the breast and, for this, it is important to develop a correct technique to help the baby breastfeed and prevent the development of problems in the mother's breast. See breastfeeding tips at: How to breastfeed.
