Your premature baby is a delicate bundle of joy needing specialized care. Get information on taking care of your premature child right here.Premature babies have their own set of challenges to face. If you are parenting a premature child, you will need specialized information on your child’s health, safety, development, feeding and overall care. As a parent you will definitely feel scared and overwhelmed along with joyful if your baby arrives earlier than due date. It is good to get advice and well informed so that you start your journey of
taking care of your premature baby in the best possible way.
If you learn how to deal with comfortable emotions and offer support, you will be able to enjoy your life with your child. Your child might be kept in neonatal intensive care unit and this unfamiliar and scary place can be intimidating for many parents. Here you need to learn about the facts – the tests and treatments that are essential and how you can help.
What Kind of Care is Required for Premature Babies?
Parents need to take special care of premature babies or babies who are born before their due date for the first two years of their life. However, this time depends on how much time before the date he or she was born and what was his
weight at the time of birth.
Care for Your Premature Child after You Leave the Hospital
Keep Things Calm
Before you reach home, make sure the light and the sound are kept low because most of the preemies have problem facing bright light and can have negative impact of even slightly loud noise also.
Avoid Smoke
Many studies have shown that preemies are very sensitive and so any kind of exposure to secondhand smoke can lead to health problems. Keep your baby away from cigarette smoke or smoke of essence sticks or
Aggarbattis.
Special Nursing Required
If your child has arrived much before time, you might have to
express your breastmilk to feed your baby. Also, the preemie has so small stomach that he or she needs only a little amount of milk at a time. Switching to normal breastfeeding might take some time. Therefore, you must follow a pediatrician’s advice on feeding a premature baby.
Mother’s Milk Adjusts to the Circumstances
It has been observed that the milk of a premature child’s mother is enriched with more protein and slightly different types of fats are found just because the child needs them for the right amount of growth. In fact, it is specifically designed so that the premature child is helped in growth during the first crucial weeks.
Growth and Development of a Premature Child
It is important to take your baby to the doctor as and when scheduled. Talk to your doctor about the care and take some advice as how to take care of your child. Your doctor may recommend some supplements for your newborn to help in his or her growth and development.
Just keep in mind that your child may not show the same rate of growth and development in the first few months especially up to two years as that of a full-term baby. You may find difficulty comforting him or her and getting him or her sleep as well. Make sure your child is kept on back when put on bed to sleep and not on stomach.
Pay attention to the
vision and
hearing of your child and consult your doctor even if you have slightest of doubt. If there is any problem and if it is detected early, it might get cured easily.
Take special care when you are travelling with your premature child in a car. Make sure the head and body of the child does not slump over and to prevent this you can use rolled up towel or blanket as support.
Remember that premature baby needs extra care as they are very delicate. So take all the precautions and safety measures the right way while raising your premature baby. In case if you feel concerned you must immediately report to a pediatrician.
What precautions should be kept in mind when bringing a premature child at home? What specialized care is needed for a premature baby? How to travel with a premature baby? Discuss here.