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Medical Complications Your Preemie May Face

I covered anemia and apnea in my article titled "Lets Talk About Preemies". In this article I will cover more of the complications so that you, as a parent have more knowledge of these complications, and are better able to care for your baby.

Chronic lung disease

- also called bronchopulmonary dysplasia or (BPD) is one of the more serious
complications.This  most commonly affects premature infants who require ongoing treatment with supplemental oxygen. Babies at risk for BPD include those who had severe respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) and needed long term treatment with breathing equipment and oxygen.

It is found in X-ray that these babies develope fluid in their lungs, scarring, and lung damage. These babies are treated with medications that make breathing easier and are slowly weaned from the ventilator. Many of these children develope chronic lung disease resembling asthma but can improve over the first 2 years of life.

My Son at 2 Months of Age

Infections 

These premature babies can't fight off bacteria, viruses, and other organisms that can cause infections due to their immature immune system.  Pneumonia (lung infection), sepsis (blood infection), and meningitis (infection of the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord) are common in premature babies. These are very serious infections and must be attended to immediately. Babies can get these infections from their mothers at birth or they may become infected after birth. These infections are treated with antibiotics and antivirals. Meningitis is especially traumatic because it can turn deadly.

Intraventricular hemmorhage (IVH) 

Bleeding in the brain (IVH) occurs in some premature babies, with the smaller babies weighing about 3 pounds or less, at the highest risk. These bleeds generally occur in the first 3 days of life and are usually diagnosed with an ultrasound examination. More severe bleeds can make the fluid filled structures (ventricles) in the brain expand rapidly, causing pressure on the brain. This can lead to cerebral palsy as well as learning and behavioral problems. However most brain bleeds are mild and resolve themselves with no or few lasting problems.In the more severe cases, the surgeon may insert a tube into the brain to drain the fluid and reduce the risk of brain damage. In milder cases, drugs can sometimes reduce the fluid buildup.

Jaundice

Premature babies can likely develope jaundice because their liver is too immature to remove the waste product called bilirubin from their blood.  Premature babies may be more sensitive to the ill effects of excess bilirubin. Babies with jaundice have a yellow color to their skin and eyes. However jaundice is usually not serious and harmless but if the bilirubin level gets too high, it can cause brain damage. 

My Premature Son at 1 Month of Age

This can be prevented because blood tests can show bilirubin levels that are too high. Then  the baby can be treated with special lights (phototherapy) that help the baby eliminate bilirubin. Occasionally, the baby may need a blood transfusion.

I told the story of my sons birth in my first article. He was premature and jaundiced at birth. He stayed in the "house of lights" for about 2 weeks. Believe me when I say that premature babies are a hand full. It seems like it is one thing after the other. Thank God, my son pulled through it all and turned out to be a healthy baby. At 2 months old, he had caught up most of his weight and wasn't so wrinkled and bruised looking. He now is a healthy young man.

I will cover more of the complications of premature babies in my next article. Since most parents aren't prepared for a premature baby, they find that they don't have clothes small enough to fit. They also don't have diapers small enough. Nothing fits! I will carry a preemie department with clothing and sleepwear in my new store, www.CarolsBabyProducts.com. Please visit my store where you will find great discounted prices, and just about everything clothing for all ages of babies. Hope to see you there.

Talk About Preemies

Premature babies are frought with complications. If born earlier than 28 weeks gestation, they are born with  a very low birth weight ( less than 2 lbs. 3 ounces ). Most of them require immediate treatment with oxygen, surfactant, and mechanical assistance to help them breathe.

These babies are too small and immature to suck, swallow, and breathe at the same time. These babies must be fed intravenously until they have developed these skills on their own. Most often, you can't hear them cry because of the tube in their throat, or they can't cry at all. These precious babies sleep all day and can't move much due to their undeveloped muscle tone.

These babies look very different than a full term baby. Their skin is wrinkled and a reddish-purple color. Their skin is so thin that you can see their blood vessels underneath. These babies haven't had time to put on any fat so they appear very thin. Their eyes are most likely closed and they have no lashes. However most babies born after 26 weeks do survive to 1 year ( about 80 % of those born after 26 weeks, and about 90% born at 27 weeks ).

These babies are subjected to a list of medical complications ranging form mild to severe.  Preemies often are born anemic , which means they haven't had enough time in the womb to build up a supply of iron. Babies use this iron supply to make red blood cells after birth. I don't have to tell you how alarming anemia is.

My son at 1 month old

Premature babies are constantly monitored for apnea. This is when your baby stops breathing for 15 seconds or more. As a first time mom this is one I don't think I would have been able to handle. This interruption in breathing is called apnea and is accompanied by a slow heart rate. If your baby stops breathing the nurse stimulates the baby by patting him or touching the soles of his feet.

The  complications mentioned here are only two of the long list of complications. Hopefully your baby won't have all of them but just a couple is enough to frighten you. I will cover the list of complications later in another article.

My oldest son was a premature baby and I  remember how terrified I was at the thought of taking care of him by myself. He was so tiny and I felt so clumsy with him in my arms. He was purple on one side of his body and a reddish color on the other side. It was as if someone had drawn a line right down the middle of his body. He was jaundiced and had to spend three weeks in the incubator. I had to breast feed him with tubes and IV lines stringing from him. I couldn't take him to my room so I had to breast feed him there in the NICU ( neonatal intensive care unit ). As soon as he was released from the incubator, his white blood cell count skyrocketed. We never knew the cause but they had to keep him in the NICU with an emergency spinal block and massive doses of intravenous antibiotics. The prognosis wasn't good. If the antibiotics didn't bring his white blood cell count down to normal, he would most likely die. I was so terrified and then, to make matters worse, my milk dried up due to all the stress. Once I was released from my room I lived in the visiting room with a blanket and smoothies from my dear mother-in-law. I used a breast pump to get as much mothers milk as possible to feed him.

My son at 2 months old

Thank God the antibiotics worked and at 1 month old, he was finally released from the hospital. Luckily for me and my son, he was born at The University of Minnesota Hospital and they have one of the most technology advanced neonatal units in the USA. He is now a strapping young man with a healthy physique. He did have a slight learning disability when he was in high school. With special help, he graduated with a B average.

As I open my new baby products online store I am reminded again and again about my sons traumatic entry into this world. Therefore I will be publishing more articles about preemies and how to care for them. We will cover some of a preemies complications throughout their development. Since parents are rarely prepared for the birth of a preemie, I will be carrying a line of preemie clothing as well as sleep wear. Come see me at CarolsBabyProducts.com