Premature Babies
What if your baby comes early?
Everyone hopes their pregnancy will be uncomplicated and free from incident. Few people consider the possibility that their baby could be born many weeks before the due date and need to be given special care for the first few days, weeks or months after birth.
However, the reality is that around 80,000 babies are born sick or premature each year in the UK – that is about one in every eight. These babies will usually be admitted to a ‘neonatal’ or ‘special care baby’ unit in hospital. A baby is called premature if it is born before 37 weeks gestation (full term being 40 weeks on average). Babies can be born prematurely for many different reasons, though about a third of premature births will happen for no apparent reason:
Why did my baby come early?
- Pregnancies with twins, triplets or more babies are very likely to be early
- An infection within the uterus or vagina, such as a urinary tract infection, can trigger premature labour
- A weakness in the neck of the womb, often called ‘cervical incompetence’, may mean that the weight of the baby can cause the cervix to open early in the fourth or fifth month of pregnancy
- Pre-eclampsia occurs in about 10-15 per cent of first time pregnancies and is responsible for at least 15 percent of all premature births
- Stressful events can sometimes start labour early, however there is no evidence that normal day-to-day stresses of living can cause premature birth
In some cases a mother’s waters break early, starting delivery. If labour starts while a baby is less than 35 weeks, doctors may give drugs to delay the labour for a day or two or to help the baby’s lungs to mature quickly.
What should I expect?
If you are shocked when you walk into the neonatal unit, you are not alone. It is very likely to be different from almost any other place you have been. You may also have just experienced one of the most traumatic episodes of your life. The room is full of monitors, high-tech equipment and the frequent sound of alarms. But all of the doctors and nurses are highly trained, know that you are under stress and are there to help you as well as your baby.
Many of the babies in the special care unit are extremely tiny and immature. The equipment that surrounds them is designed to keep them warm, to monitor their body’s functions and particularly to support their breathing.
Depending on how early your baby is born or how unwell they are, you may be shocked when you see him or her for the first time. Premature babies often appear thin, with little body fat, and look different from newborn babies that you may have seen before. This is simply because they are at an earlier stage of development as they were born early. If your baby is very premature, he or she may not be much longer than your hand and will sleep for almost 20 hours each day.
Having a premature baby in hospital is a very stressful experience. Looking after yourself is vital. You need to be strong enough to look after your baby, so make sure you eat, rest and take time away from the unit.
What does my baby need?
Remember that in the middle of all the stress, you have given birth to a baby. This situation might not be what you had in mind for the first few days of your baby’s life, but it is still alright to be congratulated and celebrate the fact that you have a new member in your family.
You have a vital part to play in the care of your child. Breast milk is the best food for premature or sick babies, and even a few drops can help your baby in the crucial first few days. Your baby also needs you to talk to them, touch them and, when they are ready, to be cuddled.
You also have a role to work together with your baby’s doctors to make decisions about your baby’s care. Sometimes these decisions can be very complicated, but you know what is best for your baby and should be encouraged to talk freely with the doctors about your baby’s treatment options.
VIP Advice brought to you by:
Bliss is the only charity in the UK that cares for sick and premature babies. We are dedicated to ensuring that babies survive and go on to have the best quality of life. We provide emotional and practical support to families, so that they can give the best possible care to their baby.
Our specialist study days and training supports doctors and nurses to develop their skills and we fund innovative research to improve the care of all sick and premature babies.
We also raise awareness of the issues affecting special care babies and fight for essential change within government and the NHS.
Visit www.bliss.org.uk for more information
