Contents:
- Medical Video: Neonatal Intensive Care for Premature Baby
- Tips for dealing with and treating sick premature babies
- Get to know the signs of a common disease
- Be aware of symptoms of serious illness in infants
Medical Video: Neonatal Intensive Care for Premature Baby
Premature babies are more prone to fall ill because physically they are not ready to get out of the womb. Their immune system is not yet mature so it is not strong enough to fight infection. So, what should parents do when premature babies get sick?
Tips for dealing with and treating sick premature babies
Healthy and stable premature babies are indeed allowed to go home from the hospital. However, germs can attack the baby at any time after being at home. When a premature baby is sick, parents must be very worried and anxious. Do you need to go directly to the doctor or the hospital emergency room when your baby falls ill?
Before panicking and in a hurry, you must first be able to distinguish which common signs of illness and serious illnesses. In most cases, symptoms of general illness usually can still be handled alone at home. When you know your baby is seriously ill, then you decide to go seek medical attention.
Get to know the signs of a common disease
Signs of a premature sick baby may be a little difficult to recognize. newborns cannot complain of pain, and can only cry. Baby crying is often misinterpreted as a sign of drowsiness or starvation, even though the condition of his body is indeed not good.
Besides being more fussy, sick babies are generally more sleepy and sleep longer than usual. They are also difficult to wake up while breastfeeding.
You can also see if your baby is sick or still fine from the stool. Healthy babies who are exclusively breastfed take yellow stools, while formula milk babies remove brown stools. When baby is sick, he will more often defecate 3-4 times a day.
Symptoms of pain in the baby can also be seen from vomiting. Muttering after breastfeeding is a natural thing, but if the vomit is different in color than usual and becomes much more frequent even if it doesn't suckle, this is a sign that the baby is sick. If not addressed immediately, babies who often have a bowel movement and vomit risk getting dehydrated.
Be aware of symptoms of serious illness in infants
If the baby shows the following signs, immediately go to the nearest emergency room to get the right medical help for your baby.
1. Difficulty breathing
Premature babies are more prone to respiratory problems because their lungs are not fully developed. One of the respiratory problems that often occurs in premature babies is bronchopulmonary dysplasia.
But in order to be more sure your baby is really sick, pay attention to what the baby's breathing pattern usually is.
If suddenly the baby breathes heavily, his breathing count is more than 60 times the breath per minute, and sounds loud until you can see the ribs, this is an alarm for you to immediately seek medical help. Especially if the color of the baby's lips turn blue.
2. High fever
Reporting from Very Well Family, children are indeed subscribed to fever, but if high fever occurs in infants less than 3 years old, especially if they are born prematurely, this can be a sign of serious illness.
The baby's ideal body temperature is around 36.6 to 37.5ºC. When baby fever reaches 38º Celsius or higher, this is a sign of infection and needs to be taken immediately to the doctor even if he shows no symptoms or other signs.For this condition, medical treatment may not be delayed.
3. Do not want to eat, reddish or inflamed body
When a baby who has often been breastfed has a lot of resistance or inflammation around his umbilical cord, immediately bring your baby to the nearest doctor or hospital. Especially if the area is warm, red, and swollen.
The symptoms of a sick premature baby may often be ignored by others, but as a parent you will understand better. If you are not really sure, do not delay to have your baby checked by a doctor immediately. Getting medical help is the right step so that the condition does not get worse.
