Tips To Take Care Of Premature Baby At Home: A premature baby is one who is born too early, usually before the 37th week of pregnancy. These babies often have serious health problems including breathing issues, heart problems, digestive, brain and temperature control problems among many others.
Often it is nothing less than a challenge to take care of a premature baby at home. But there is nothing to worry about, with a few helpful tips on how to take care of their premature baby. In a conversation with Jagran English, Dr Ravinder Goud Jangampally, Consultant Paediatrician & Neonatologist, Yashoda Hospitals Hyderabad explained how new mothers can take care of their premature babies in the comfort of their homes.
Watch the video below about premature birth complications:
1. Maintaining body temperature and hygiene
Preterm babies are prone to hypothermia, always keep the baby covered in cotton clothing and use bonnet gloves and socks. Examine the baby’s extremities using the back of your hand to make sure your baby is always warm. Keep the room temperature at 27° C.
2. Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC)
This method helps your baby to maintain body temperature, helps you and your baby bond and also helps in good weight gain as well as brain development. kangaroo technique is when you and your baby have skin-to-skin contact. Maintain hygiene while handling babies.
3. Feeding your baby
Breastfeeding is an ideal choice. However, due to the baby being too small, they might experience difficulty latching onto the breast at first. To make the feeding process more manageable, use expressed breast milk and feed it to your baby with a spoon or more ideally a paladar. If necessary use formula milk, as there are unique formulas made especially for premature babies. Follow a timely feeding schedule. Ensure there isn’t a gap of more than 3 hours after your baby is fed and a minimum of 8-10 feeds to avoid any chances of dehydration and hypoglycemia.
4. Learn CPR and get specialised training
This is the most crucial of all the tips in taking care of a premature baby. Sometimes, preterm babies have difficulties breathing, which can result in the baby breathing slowly and even pausing. Learning how to perform CPR will help you take care of any baby if there is an emergency.
5. Proper Sleep
Ensure your baby has proper sleep requirements. premature babies need more sleep. Make sure your baby’s crib has a firm mattress with no pillows. Check your baby is always sleeping on its back, head end elevated.
6. Limit Outdoor Visits
Try to limit outdoor visits with your baby. It is best to avoid taking your baby in crowded places outdoors. This will help prevent the transfer of any infections. Restrict lots of visitors from visiting your baby. As the baby’s immunity level is still low, it is best to avoid and limit visitors at your home. This also applies to people who smoke, or who are unwell.
Dr Jangampally concluded by saying that by following these simple tips, you can take care of your premature baby the right way. Making the right choices and changes, as recommended by your doctor, will prove to be highly beneficial for you and the baby.
(Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis or treatment.)
