Premature babies often come into this world with respiratory distress syndrome also known as RDS, this is because the protein that is known as surfactant is necessary to keep the air sacs in the lung working and premature babies lack this, so you can well imagine that this is a huge problem. Doctors give the babies surfactant to make up for what they lack naturally and to fix the breathing problem. Babies with RDS need a respirator in order for them to breathe. Sometimes they have problems breathing for up to 20 seconds at a time, breathing is often stimulated by touching the bottom of the feet or gently patting it.
To confirm the problem, doctors must first give x-rays and blood tests before proceeding. These babies are also put on a respirator to ensure continued breathing, there are some premature babies who sometimes stop breathing for at least 20 seconds, this condition is called apnea and breathing is often started again by gently patting the bottom of the child's feet.
There are other times when bleeding in the brain occurs, this is called, intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) this usually takes place in the first three days of the baby's life and is often discovered by an ultrasound examination. Fortunately these are usually mild, however in the rare cases where they are more severe, they may cause ventricles in the brain to expand creating pressure in the brain, this pressure leads to neurological damages which cause problems, such as, cerebral palsy and learning problems. Surgeons sometimes place a tube in the brain to drain fluid from the brain or they may use a less invasive method, such as, medications that cause the fluid to recede.
Premature babies may also have a heart condition known as patent ductus arteriosis (PDA). Before babies are born there is an artery called the ductus arteriosus whose job it is to let the blood bypass the babies developing lung in the uterus because in the womb the baby gets oxygen through the placenta, instead of the lungs. Babies with this condition are usually given medications that seal the ductus, sometimes surgery is used to close the ductus, in case the medications do not work.
Jaundice is sometimes a problem because the infants liver is not fully developed, this liver development occurs in the last trimester, premature babies have not had enough time in the womb and so they lack this development. Sometimes a dangerous substance call bilirubin develops and phototherapy must be used to remove it. Anemia is very prevalent in premature babies as the third trimester is when babies store iron to use for making red blood cells, because the infant is premature not enough time has been had to store up this reserve of iron, so doctors usually give the baby iron supplements and then drugs which cause red blood cells to develop are given.
It should be no surprise that anemia is another problem for babies who are born prematurely. Babies store iron in the last three months inside the womb. So if the infant has not had time to develop, then of course these iron reserves become low. This can cause premature babies to have stunted growth. This problem, however can be easily corrected by letting the baby take iron supplements, medications will also be given to aid in the development of red blood cells.
To confirm the problem, doctors must first give x-rays and blood tests before proceeding. These babies are also put on a respirator to ensure continued breathing, there are some premature babies who sometimes stop breathing for at least 20 seconds, this condition is called apnea and breathing is often started again by gently patting the bottom of the child's feet.
There are other times when bleeding in the brain occurs, this is called, intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) this usually takes place in the first three days of the baby's life and is often discovered by an ultrasound examination. Fortunately these are usually mild, however in the rare cases where they are more severe, they may cause ventricles in the brain to expand creating pressure in the brain, this pressure leads to neurological damages which cause problems, such as, cerebral palsy and learning problems. Surgeons sometimes place a tube in the brain to drain fluid from the brain or they may use a less invasive method, such as, medications that cause the fluid to recede.
Premature babies may also have a heart condition known as patent ductus arteriosis (PDA). Before babies are born there is an artery called the ductus arteriosus whose job it is to let the blood bypass the babies developing lung in the uterus because in the womb the baby gets oxygen through the placenta, instead of the lungs. Babies with this condition are usually given medications that seal the ductus, sometimes surgery is used to close the ductus, in case the medications do not work.
Jaundice is sometimes a problem because the infants liver is not fully developed, this liver development occurs in the last trimester, premature babies have not had enough time in the womb and so they lack this development. Sometimes a dangerous substance call bilirubin develops and phototherapy must be used to remove it. Anemia is very prevalent in premature babies as the third trimester is when babies store iron to use for making red blood cells, because the infant is premature not enough time has been had to store up this reserve of iron, so doctors usually give the baby iron supplements and then drugs which cause red blood cells to develop are given.
It should be no surprise that anemia is another problem for babies who are born prematurely. Babies store iron in the last three months inside the womb. So if the infant has not had time to develop, then of course these iron reserves become low. This can cause premature babies to have stunted growth. This problem, however can be easily corrected by letting the baby take iron supplements, medications will also be given to aid in the development of red blood cells.
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