Health Problems In Premature Babies

Health problems in premature babies are more common than in babies who remain in the womb for the full gestation period. Being born before the 37th week of pregnancy can cause problems.

Premature birth can happen for many reasons, such as an infection, stress, an accident, a big blow or drinking alcohol.

Below we will provide a list of health problems that commonly occur in premature babies.

Health Problems in Premature Babies

In these cases, the biggest problems are related to the baby’s brain and lungs. These are the most frequent complications:

1. Complications With Breathing:

Hyaline Membrane Disease

Hyaline membrane disease is a condition affecting newborn babies, especially premature babies. It usually manifests itself as shortness of breath (dyspnea) and blue discoloration of the skin and mucous membranes (cyanosis).

This disease can develop into bronchopulmonary dysplasia,  which is a chronic lung disease. In addition, it leads to fibrosis in the lungs of the child, causing shortness of breath.

patent ductus arteriosus

This is a heart defect that causes breathing problems in premature babies.  The ductus arteriosus is a shunt between the pulmonary artery and the aorta. All newborn babies have it, but it disappears pretty quickly.

Normally, this shunt closes on its own during the first hours of life. In some premature babies, this can remain open for longer, leading to difficulty breathing.

apnea

This is a term that describes a breathing stop of more than 20 seconds in babies.  All babies can have this problem, but it is more common in babies born prematurely.

A decreased heart rate may occur after apnea.  When breathing slows, the heart rate also decreases.

2. Digestive Complications

Premature babies have trouble sucking and swallowing, and sometimes they can do this at all. In these cases , the digestive system cannot process the nutrients the baby needs.

However, good nutrition is indispensable for the child to grow healthily and to strengthen his body sufficiently.

A premature newborn may have a digestive disorder. Necrotizing enterocolitis is the most frequent emergency in newborn babies.  It is a digestive disorder associated with immaturity and weakness.

3. Neurological Complications

It is during the last months of pregnancy that the brain develops the most. If a baby is born prematurely, there can be complications such as ventricular hemorrhage and periventricular leucomalacia .

Intraventricular hemorrhage is one of the most worrisome health problems in premature babies.  This bleeding happens because the brain is not yet fully grown and weak veins can easily break.

In the worst case, it can cause major problems and even death. This happens in a third of the premature babies affected.

Periventricular leucomalacia is a type of brain damage.  In this case, the brain tissue is damaged and it can also affect the nerve cells that control the baby’s movements. This can lead to motor impairments such as cerebral palsy.

4. Complications Associated with the Liver

When a baby is born, even if it is at the right time, the liver breaks down red blood cells. This breakdown releases a yellow pigment called bilirubin. The problem is, when a baby’s liver can’t handle it, it starts to pile up. This is called jaundice.

Remember that the intensity of ban babies can vary . The excess bilirubin will usually be shed through the faeces and also through the baby’s skin, giving it a yellow color.

So, because of these potential problems, mothers of premature babies are often concerned and stressed.

However, it should be borne in mind that advances in medicine make these problems in preterm infants less threatening, and many preterm infants are in good health.