Premature birth complications

Premature birth complications

Premature birth complications

Babies born before the 37th week of pregnancy are considered premature. Mothers who give birth prematurely are often scared and nervous. Premature newborns are at increased risk for one or more complications.

Most common complications of premature birth

The risk of complications increases the earlier the baby is born.

Below is a list of the most common complications that a premature newborn may experience:

Immature lungs. In most children, the lungs matured at 36 weeks of gestation. However, since children develop at different rates, there are exceptions to this rule. If the mother and her doctor know that the baby may be born prematurely, an amniocentesis may be done to check the level of lung maturity. In some cases, before delivery, the baby is given a steroid injection to speed up the development of the lungs. The main problem in preterm birth is the development of the lungs of the newborn.

Immature lungs are associated with the following complications:

      • Respiratory distress syndrome causes hard, irregular breathing and difficulty due to the lack of a specific agent (surfactant) in the lungs that helps prevent lung collapse. Treatment includes one or more of the following: supplemental oxygen (through an oxygen cap), use of a respirator (ventilator), continuous positive airway pressure, endotracheal intubation, and, in severe cases, doses of surfactant.
      • Transient tachypnea is fast, shallow breathing. It can occur in both premature and full-term babies. Recovery usually takes three days or less. Until the newborn recovers, feeding may be changed and, in some cases, intravenous feeding may be given. Usually no further treatment is needed.
      • Bronchopulmonary dysplasia occurs when a child's lungs show signs of deterioration. Unfortunately, when premature babies are put on ventilators (also called respirators), their lungs are still immature and sometimes cannot withstand the constant pressure of the ventilator.

Premature babies who are on mechanical ventilation for more than twenty-eight days are at risk of developing bronchopulmonary dysplasia. Premature babies can recover from this condition, but some take longer to recover than others.

      • Pneumonia. Complications from premature breathing problems can lead to pneumonia. Pneumonia is an infection of the area of ​​the lung involved in the exchange of carbon dioxide and oxygen. This causes inflammation, which reduces the amount of space available for air exchange. This can result in insufficient oxygen for the baby. Treatment may include antibiotics, supplemental oxygen, and intubation. If left untreated, it can turn into a life-threatening infection or lead to sepsis or meningitis.

Apnea and bradycardia - Apnea is the absence of breathing. In the neonatal intensive care unit, an alarm is triggered if a newborn develops irregular breathing with pauses of more than 10-15 seconds. Bradycardia is a decrease in heart rate.

An alarm will also be triggered if the newborn's heart rate drops below 100 beats per minute. Usually, a light pat or simple back rub will help remind the premature baby to breathe and also increase the heart rate.

Infection. A premature baby may not be able to fight off some infections. For their own protection, the baby is placed in an incubator to provide protection from these infections.

Jaundice. It  is a yellowish skin color caused by a buildup of a substance called bilirubin in the blood. Treatment includes placement under a bilirubin lamp. The treatment is called phototherapy. The process can take anywhere from a week to 10 days.

Intraventricular hemorrhage. Babies born before 34 weeks have an increased risk of cerebral hemorrhage because the immature blood vessels may not be able to tolerate the changes in circulation that occurred during childbirth. This can lead to future complications such as cerebral palsy, mental retardation and learning difficulties. Intracranial hemorrhage occurs in about 1/3 of children born at 24-26 weeks of gestation.

If a preterm birth is identified and is imminent, the mother may be given medication to help reduce the risk of a serious intracranial hemorrhage in the newborn.

Inability to maintain body heat. A premature baby is born with low fat and immature skin, making it difficult to maintain body heat. Treatment includes incubators to provide warmth.

Immature gastrointestinal tract and digestive system. Premature newborns are born with a gastrointestinal tract that is too immature to effectively absorb nutrients. In such cases, they receive their original nutrients intravenously. This is called total parenteral nutrition. After a few days, newborns can be fed breast milk or formula through a tube, as they may not yet be able to swallow or breastfeed on their own.

Anemia. This is a disease caused by an abnormally low level of red blood cells. Red blood cells are important because they carry a substance called hemoglobin that carries oxygen. Most newborns should have a red blood cell count above 15 grams. However, premature babies are at high risk of having lower levels. If the anemia is severe, treatment may include a red blood cell transfusion to the newborn.

Patent Ductus Arteriosus. This is a heart condition that causes difficulty breathing after childbirth due to an open blood vessel called the ductus arteriosus. During fetal development, the ductus arteriosus opens to allow blood to drain from the lungs into the aorta. The fetus produces a chemical compound called prostaglandin E, which maintains blood flow by keeping the ductus arteriosus open.

Eventually, prostaglandin E levels drop, causing the ductus arteriosus to close, allowing the baby's lungs to receive the blood they need to function properly after birth. In preterm birth, prostaglandin E may remain at the same level, causing a patent ductus arteriosus. Treatment includes drugs that stop or slow down the production of prostaglandin E.

Retinopathy of prematurity. It is an eye disease that can potentially lead to blindness. It affects most premature babies between 24 and 26 weeks of gestation, but rarely affects them after 33 to 34 weeks of gestation. There are many different stages of this condition, and the treatment prescribed will depend on its severity. Treatment may include laser surgery or cryosurgery.

Necrotizing enterocolitis. This condition occurs when a part of the intestine of a newborn develops poor blood flow, which can lead to infection of the intestinal wall. Treatment includes intravenous nutrition and antibiotics. Only in severe cases is surgery deemed necessary.

Sepsis. It is a disease in which bacteria enter the bloodstream. Sepsis often leads to lung infection and can lead to pneumonia. Treatment includes antibiotics. 


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