Babies That Need Special Care
Asking questions
Ask the doctor or midwife any questions that might be disturbing you. You can learn about the functions of the various equipments which will make you comfortable with them. Also do not be scared to ask questions as the baby is frail and you are scared of the reply. Modern intensive care can help even babies born before 28 weeks to survive.
Babies can be admitted to neonatal care for a number of reasons, including when they:
- Premature or early born babies – 1 baby in 13 is born early, and babies born before 34 weeks may need extra help with breathing, feeding and keeping warm
- Babies who are extremely small and have a low birth weight
- Suffer from infection
- Babies having diabetic mother
- Babies suffering from jaundice soon after birth
- Babies born with difficulty
- Babies who have had a complicated surgery
Getting to know ypur baby
It is very important for you to spend as much time with your baby as possible. Your baby needs as much love and attention as any normal healthy baby. Many hospitals have special rooms for you to stay so that you can stay near your baby and take part in her day to day activities. She may look frail and you may be scared to touch her. Though some babies cannot be taken out of incubators, you can still talk to her and stroke her through the portholes in the sides. You may even be allowed to change her nappy and help dress her up. Almost all babies respond to loving handling
Feeding
If the baby is able to suck, you will be asked to feed her normally; else she will be fed through a tube passed through her mouth down to her stomach.
Jaundice
Many new born babies develop a mild form of jaundice. Their skin and white portion of the eyes turn slightly yellow. The liver of the baby is not fully developed, and bilirubin pigment accumulates faster in the blood than the liver can dispose it. The jaundice normally clears up on its own in a couple of days. The baby may be sleepier and you may have to wake it up for feeds. It helps to expose her to natural sunlight. Only in a few severe cases, the baby is taken into special care.
Incubators
Extremely small babies are nursed in incubators rather than cots to keep them warm. However, hospital staff allows you to contact with your baby.
Some incubators have open tops, but if your baby’s incubator doesn’t, you can put your hands through the holes in the side of the incubator to stroke and touch them.
If your baby requires special care it is normal to feel anxious do not hesitate to talk to the doctor or hospital staff about it. Seek proper advice from doctor so that your child recovers fast and achieves proper developmental milestones .Your child will turn normal within few days and attain normal growth patterns as any other child.
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