Having a baby of your very own might be one of the most wonderful things in life. Whether they are a spitting image of you, your spouse, or a good mix of both, it can be humbling to gaze upon their little face and be reminded that life continues ad infinitum. If you are blessed enough to have this happen to you, anxiety and confusion might still result from not knowing enough about newborn medical care. This is especially true if your newborn was premature due to medical complications or a doctor’s advice to deliver early for the health of the mother.
Caring for a premature newborn can be a special challenge, as premature babies are at risk for all sorts of conditions. In fact, babies born before 38 weeks of gestation are especially susceptible to jaundice. Your OB/GYN will surely brief you, especially if your newborn medical care necessitates a hospital stay. It’s imperative that you listen to your doctor’s instructions and advice.
Here are a couple of tips (in addition to those provided by your doctor) on how to provide newborn care to a premature baby, no matter your skill level. All that is really required is that you continue to be the loving and doting parent that you’ve always wanted to be, with perhaps an extra dose of newborn medical care knowledge sprinkled in.
Remember That Premature Newborn Care Can Be Exhausting
Newborn medical care can be more difficult than kids care to begin with, but it becomes especially exhausting if your baby is born premature and must remain in the hospital. If you have a spouse, then you will definitely want to figure out an arrangement where you can sleep adequately and still care for your little one. Helping hospital staff and monitoring your child can be truly exhausting but it is worth it in the end as a unique way to bond together.
Babies that are born premature often have other health problems, so you may be distressed that your baby cries a lot (or not at all). As long as you monitor their health along with doctors that are trained to do so, be confident that many newborns survive today with minimal health issues. It is not like the days of yore in which infants could not be expected to survive to adulthood. Many people alive today were born as premature newborns and you would hardly even suspect it.
Go Slow With Foods And Formula
Feeding newborn babies can be a lot of fun, especially if they have a healthy appetite. To watch their faces light up as they eat foods appropriate for their age and health is the joy and delight of any parent. While this should still be true for a newborn, it depends on whether your newborn is taking foods intravenously or orally. Newborns aren’t able to eat mashed foods until six months of age or so, so you will probably be feeding them breast milk or formula until otherwise instructed by your doctor.
You must be careful when feeding premature newborns anything because many times their bodies are not developed enough to take full feedings. They can get sick if you feed them too fast, too much, or the wrong type of milk or formula. Be sure to consult with the doctors providing your newborn medical care to find the best diet and feeding plan for your child.
Keep Them Warm, But Don’t Smother Them
Once your premature baby has been released from the hospital by the pediatric doctors that have been taking care of them, you will still need to heed any and all regulations they give you. You can rest easy knowing that many traditional childcare tips still apply, one being that you should keep your baby warm without smothering them.
As premature babies often have less fat deposits and thinner skin than those that are more developed, they tend to get colder easily. A good rule of thumb is to keep them warm unless it is above room temperature, but this also depends on your climate and housing. Be sure to ask your pediatrician about specific guidelines that they recommend for your baby and what they would deem appropriate.
If you have any worries or doubts while caring for your newborn, be sure to contact your doctor or a professional at Pediatrix right away.
