The main problems that a premature newborn can present at a general level are those of an infectious, cardiological, gastrointestinal, renal and neurological nature, which can occur in the first days of life.
Sandra Díaz Rozas, Professor of the Nursing Faculty at the Andrés Bello University, Viña del Mar Campus
Any baby born before thirty-seven weeks of gestation is considered premature. This condition brings with it different types of difficulties. The main problems that a premature newborn can present at a general level are those of an infectious, cardiological, gastrointestinal, renal and neurological nature, which can occur in the first days of life.
Among them, it is worth specifying respiratory distress syndrome, corresponding to a disorder related to the immaturity of the lungs, due to the lack of surfactant, that is, the liquid substance that allows them to remain expanded. Likewise, there is a pathology called bronchopulmonary dysplasia, which implies a chronic lung disease. As the lungs grow and mature, recovery from this condition is possible.
Now, another common danger that can be generated in these cases is apnea, a temporary respiratory pause, lasting more than 20 seconds. It is associated with a decrease in heart rate, bradycardia, desaturation and a decrease in the amount of oxygen in the blood. On the other hand, there is a risk of retinopathy, disease in which the retinas are not fully developed, taking into account that most of these situations resolve on their own.
In the brain, another complication that could arise is an intraventricular hemorrhage, producing a bleeding in or around the brain ventricles, which contain cerebrospinal fluid. It is mainly because the blood vessels are very fragile and immature and break easily.
Similarly, at the intestinal level, there is necrotizing enterocolitis, caused by injury or inflammation of the small or large intestine, which can lead to tissue death. Along these lines, jaundice occurs, produced by the accumulation of bilirubin in the blood, manifested through a yellow coloration of the skin, which progresses from head to tail.
Regarding special care for premature newborns, the main aspects are safety during sleep, special nutrition, protection from infections, especially respiratory and gastrointestinal.
A premature baby will sleep more than a full-term baby, but for shorter periods, they should always rest on their back to reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome. Regarding nutrition, given their condition, they will need special nutrition to grow well and recover the development they did not achieve intrauterinely. Regardless of the way you eat, the most important thing is to maintain hygiene measures to avoid gastrointestinal infections, with good hand washing and disinfection of items being essential.
Outings should be limited in the first weeks, especially in winter. Immunization in these children is essential, they must receive all the necessary vaccines indicated by the doctor, since, due to their prematurity, they did not receive maternal immunity. In addition, all people who are in direct contact, especially the mother, must be vaccinated against influenza and whooping cough. Lastly, but not less important than the previous care, is skin-to-skin attachment, improving bonding and promoting breastfeeding.
