dehydrated. It’s not unusual for infants to spit up regularly but check with your medical provider if your baby has frequent problems holding food down after feeding.
Premature babies often have trouble swallowing for the first few months, so there’s no rush to introduce solid food. Your doctor will probably recommend waiting about six months after their original due date (not their birthday). Start with iron-fortified rice cereal and move on to other food only if your baby does not have any problems.
Preventing Infections
Germs that merely make other babies miserable could be a serious threat to your baby. You can never completely protect your child from exposure to germs, but you can take steps to keep them as healthy as possible.
First, don’t give up on breastfeeding. This may be difficult for women with preemies since they are often separated while the baby is in the hospital. However, you can begin pumping your breasts to establish a good supply of milk, and nurseries will often feed this milk to the baby while he or she is in the hospital after weeks 32 to 34. It may even be possible to breastfeed your preemie in the hospital under some circumstances.
Try to keep your child away from places where people, and germs, tend to gather. “We always tell our parents to avoid taking their children to daycare (centers), malls, churches, and similar places,” Sauer says. “It really helps cut down on infections.” According to the University of Wisconsin, most babies can start mingling with crowds after they’ve been home for three months.
As hard as it may be, you may also have to keep some visitors away during your baby’s first three months. Nobody with a cold or the flu should come through the door unless they absolutely have to. Any members of the household who feel ill should wash their hands before touching the baby.
In addition to the usually recommended immunizations, your child may need to receive extra shots to ward off infections. A flu shot at six months of age might help prevent a serious illness down the road. If your baby’s lungs are still not fully formed, your doctor may also suggest that your baby is treated with palivizumab, a mouse antibody that can protect your baby from RSV (respiratory syncytial virus). RSV is a very common infection that makes the rounds every cold and flu season. Premature infants who receive palivizumab can still catch the RSV bug, but they are less likely to become seriously ill.
Even if you’ve done everything possible to protect your baby, you should stay alert for signs of infection:
- Fever or chills
- Poor skin color
- Unusual trouble keeping down food
- Unusual trouble breathing or increased apnea
- Unusual sluggishness
Sleeping
First, the good news: Premature babies tend to sleep more hours per day than full-term babies. On the downside, they also wake up more often. Be prepared to comfort your baby several times during the night. Make sure you put your baby to bed on their back, and not on their stomach.
Fun, Games, and Affection
Like any other baby, premature babies thrive on love and attention. Hold them closely, sing a song, show them a picture book, and hold them some more. Just remember that premature babies also need plenty of rest. If your baby turns away from you, cries, or generally acts irritable or distracted, he or she may need some quiet time.
Special Needs
Premature babies often need special care when they come home. For instance, although it’s uncommon, it may be necessary to provide supplemental oxygen to a baby for a few months while their lungs develop if your doctor recommends it. Your baby’s doctor will give you thorough instructions for handling any equipment or medications before you take your baby home. The doctor may also suggest that you learn to perform infant cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).
Bear in mind, even when your baby is out of the woods you might need to take them to see specialists for several months, even years, to monitor their development. These specialists might include neurologists, ophthalmologists, or physical therapists.
Caring for a newborn baby is hard enough, but caring for a premature baby with special needs can seem overwhelming at first. Don’t be afraid to ask for help, and remember to take time out to relieve stress and recharge your strength. Through it all, just remember to never lose sight of the big picture: Despite all the potential problems, most premature infants born in the United States these days grow up to be healthy adults.
“We encourage parents to keep things as normal as possible,” NICU nurse Sauer says. “At some point, they have to look past all of those monitors and see the child.”
Find out more on preterm birth development and additional care tips here, on BlackDoctor.org.