Babies don’t always wait until their estimated due date to make their arrival. Babies born before 37 weeks of pregnancy are considered premature, and it’s not as uncommon as you might think. In fact, premature babies account for one out of every ten deliveries. While many of the parts of caring for a newborn still apply, here are a few unique things to know about premature babies.
There’s No Definitive Cause of Premature Birth
While there’s no specific cause of premature birth, certain factors may increase your risk. A few of these include frequent bleeding or ongoing stress. Women who deliver multiple babies at one time, such as with twins or triplets, are also more likely to give birth prematurely. Some women are also at an increased risk of premature birth simply because they have had previous premature deliveries.
Preemies May Be at a Higher Risk of Certain Conditions
Premature babies are sometimes at a higher risk of certain conditions, including cerebral palsy, learning difficulties, vision problems, and hearing problems. They may also be more likely to have sleep apnea. However, the hospital will usually notify you if they don’t think it’s yet safe for the baby to leave.
Your Newborn May Need More Hospital Time
How long your baby stays in the hospital depends on their general health. Some preemies may have to stay longer than average because some medical conditions require 24/7 monitoring. How long your premature baby stays in the hospital will depend on many factors, including their size, overall health, and how early they were born.
Your Premature Baby Will Be Smaller Than the Average
You can usually identify a premature baby by its weight. Premature babies tend to be much smaller simply because they haven’t had as much time to develop. A premature baby’s head may seem much larger than the rest of its body. They may also have more transparent skin and a layer of fine hair covering their whole body.
It’s Best To Limit Visitors
Premature babies haven’t had as much time in the womb to develop a strong, healthy immune system. For this reason, it may be best to limit visitors until the baby is a little older. Premature babies are at a higher risk of catching colds or viruses. Of the visitors you allow, you’ll want to ensure they thoroughly wash their hands before handling the baby. While the waiting period for visitation and outings may vary depending on your baby and its unique health, it’s usually best to wait for at least three months.
Cow’s Milk Should Be Avoided
Studies show that cow’s milk can be dangerous to premature babies. This includes formulas with cow-based fortifiers. Numerous studies have correlated the use of cow’s milk in a premature baby’s diet, leading to high rates of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). This gastrointestinal condition affects the intestinal tract’s lining. It can also cause it to become inflamed and even die off. This may lead to perforations in the tract’s lining, allowing bacteria to go places it shouldn’t. In some cases, NEC can even lead to neurological disorders.
Even more concerning is the fact that some of the baby formula products available at the store today contain these dangerous cow’s milk additions. Numerous lawsuits have been recently filed against Similac and Enfamil for failing to warn parents and medical providers of the potentially dangerous correlation between their cow-based products and the risk of developing NEC in premature babies.
A toxic baby formula NEC lawsuit allows parents to recover funds related to the lack of safety warnings. If your baby was fed one of the included formulas in the hospital or you unknowingly fed one of these products to your premature baby in the first few weeks of their life, it may have put them at risk. To file a lawsuit, you only need documentation of a premature baby and evidence of NEC symptoms.
Many Premature Babies Grow Up Normally
While you may want to take a little extra care during the first few months of your premature baby’s life, the good news is that most grow up normally. Being born early doesn’t necessarily mean that your child will be affected for life. Taking extra precautions in the first few weeks that you bring them home can help them thrive.
Delivering your baby prematurely is always a possibility. Premature babies can be at a higher risk of certain conditions, meaning you may need to take extra care. It’s also important to know what medications and foods may increase their risk, including certain baby formulas.
