According to the World Health Organisation, about 13.4 million babies – around 1 in 10 – were born prematurely in 2020. In South Africa, this number is estimated to be 1 in 7 babies born before their due date. A premature baby is defined as a child born before 27 weeks of gestation and can be caused by many different factors including multiple pregnancies (e.g. twins or triplets), chronic conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure, or other pregnancy complications that may require an early induction of labour.
Premature babies are at risk because their vital organs such as their lungs and brains are still developing, and they’re without the protection of their mother’s womb. Thanks to modern medicine though, the chances of a pre-term baby thriving are high – though this depends on how many weeks premature they are. Generally, the earlier a baby is born, the higher the risk of complications.
If you’re an expectant parent, the thought of your baby being born prematurely can be very worrying, but knowing the facts can help you to stay calm should this happen. In honour of World Prematurity Month this November, here are five things to know about having a premature baby:
They’ll usually be transferred to NICU. Depending on how early your baby arrives, they may be transferred to the hospital’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and into an incubator. This gives them the extra help and care while they develop to the stage that they can breathe, feed and stay warm in the outside world. Depending on how early they’re born, they may be connected to a feeding tube as well as other equipment to monitor their vital signs or help them breathe.
Skin-to-skin is important. Skin-to-skin, or ‘kangaroo’ care, involves holding your baby against your bare chest and this has multiple benefits for both mother and baby: for babies it regulates their temperature and heartrate, while it can help mothers reduce their own stress and increase their milk supply. While skin-to-skin care may not immediately be possible if your baby is in incubator, talk to the NICU staff about having skin-to-skin contact as soon as you possibly can – even for short periods – to reap these benefits.
Breastmilk can make a huge difference. Depending on how prematurely your baby is born, they may not have developed the suck-swallow-breath coordination to be able to be bottle or breastfed. So, they’ll need to be given fluids through a feeding tube that passes through their mouth or nose into their stomach. But did you know that for the first few weeks after a preemie baby is born, breast milk produced by the mother is slightly higher in protein and minerals and different types of fat that are more easily absorbed? While you may not be able to breastfeed your baby initially, you can still express your breastmilk so that they are given it via their feeding tube – or you can freeze it for later.
A mother’s mental health is key. Having a premature baby can be extremely taxing on the mental health of the parents, especially for moms. That’s why it’s important to practice self-care as best you can over these weeks and months. This can be as simple as going outside for a walk, eating regular healthy food, or leaning on other parents or family for support. You could also join an in-person (or online) preemie support group, which may be offered to you if you’re a member of a medical aid. Fedhealth’s range of maternity benefits, for example, includes access to 24-hour medical advice for any concerns you may have pre or post birth. Remember that medical aids impose a condition-specific waiting period of around 12 months for new members, which means if you join a scheme after you’re pregnant you won’t be covered for the birth (although your baby will be covered from the moment they are born). For this reason, it’s a good idea to join a medical scheme before you’re pregnant, to ensure that medical costs relating to your pregnancy and delivery in a private hospital are covered.
Adjust your expectations. When it comes to premature babies, the normal milestones don’t apply, since they won’t act like a newborn until at least their due date or even later. For example, if your baby was born at 29 weeks, he won’t be a newborn until he’s at least two months old. Premature babies tend to spend less time in deep sleep and will need to be fed more often than a full term baby, and you may need to wake them to feed them. While your baby is still stabilising and in those early days, don’t concern yourself with any kind of routine – adjust your expectations and simply focus on them developing and growing, whatever that may look like.
Having a premature baby in hospital can be one of the most stressful times in your life, so staying positive and focusing on the day when your baby is developed and stabilised enough to thrive on their own is important. While many aspects of the situation may feel out of your control, focusing on the things you can do, like expressing breastmilk, leaning on others and giving yourself as much self-care as you can, will go a long way to helping you feel calmer and better able to deal with the weeks that follow your baby’s arrival.
Sources:
- https://health-e.org.za/2020/11/18/premature-births-antenatal-access/
- https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/preterm-birth
- https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/preemie-care.html
- https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/baby/breastfeeding/Pages/Providing-Breastmilk-for-Premature-and-Ill-Newborns.aspx
- https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/05/200507102434.htm
- https://www.whattoexpect.com/first-year/caring-for-a-premature-baby.aspx
