Pay attention to the care of premature babies!

With the improvement of obstetrics and pediatrics diagnosis and treatment, the application of assisted reproductive technology, and the opening of second and third births, my country's premature birth rate has gradually increased, and the survival rate has also increased significantly. November 17th of each year is "World Prematurity Day". The World Health Organization calls on the world to pay more attention to the problem of premature birth, strengthen related research, and take effective actions to reduce health problems and deaths caused by premature birth.

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A premature baby is a baby born before 37 weeks of gestation. Because their bodies are not fully developed, they face many health problems and special needs, so caring for them is crucial.

1. Why do premature babies need care?

1.1 Premature babies’ bodies are not fully developed

In the womb, babies grow and develop with the help of nutrients and oxygen supplied by their mothers, but when premature babies are born, their organs and systems are not fully prepared to work independently. For example, a premature baby's lungs may not be fully developed, causing breathing difficulties, and the digestive system may not be able to fully absorb and digest food.

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1.2 Premature infants have a weaker immune system

The immune system is an important part of the body's resistance to disease, but the immune system of premature babies is not fully developed and is vulnerable to infection. Premature babies may be more susceptible to respiratory tract infections, intestinal infections and other diseases.

1.3 Premature babies also face many other health problems. They may have physiological problems such as low weight, hypoglycemia, and hypotension. They may also face neurodevelopmental problems such as brain damage and delayed cognitive development.

1.4 The importance of premature infant care also lies in psychological support. Because premature infants usually need to be cared for in hospitals, they may face separation and unfamiliar environments, and are prone to loneliness and anxiety.

2. Premature baby care

2.1 Airway management

Since the respiratory system of premature babies is very fragile, it is very important to keep the airway open. Nurses should often observe the breathing of premature babies and detect abnormalities in time. If premature babies have difficulty breathing or wheezing, measures should be taken immediately to ensure the patency of the airway. Common methods include patting the back, suctioning sputum, and cleaning the nasal cavity. Some premature babies need special respiratory support. During the breathing process of premature babies, ventilators or oxygen may be needed to help them maintain normal breathing. Ventilators can support the breathing of premature babies by providing normal airflow, while oxygen can provide additional oxygen supply. However, excessive dependence on ventilators and oxygen can also bring some negative effects, such as lung damage and respiratory system dependence. Therefore, nursing staff need to gradually reduce dependence on ventilators and oxygen according to the specific situation of premature babies, and help premature babies gradually restore normal respiratory function.

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2.2 Temperature Regulation

Premature infants have poor body temperature regulation ability and are easily affected by the external environment, so providing a suitable temperature environment is crucial for the health and survival of premature infants. To keep the surrounding environment of premature infants warm, the body temperature regulation of newborns mainly depends on the temperature of the surrounding environment. Premature infants are more susceptible to the cold environment due to their imperfect body temperature regulation ability. Therefore, in the care of premature infants, it is necessary to ensure that the temperature of the care environment is appropriate. Generally speaking, the nursing room temperature for premature infants should be kept between 26-28 degrees Celsius, and sudden changes in temperature should be avoided. Caregivers can ensure that the surrounding environment of premature infants is warm and stable by using an incubator or a temperature regulator. Premature infants should also be given appropriate warming measures. In addition to keeping the surrounding environment warm, caregivers can also help premature infants maintain a stable body temperature by giving them appropriate warming measures. Common warming measures include using warm blankets or clothing, avoiding direct exposure to cold wind, and skin contact warming. In the skin-to-skin warming method, the caregiver places the premature baby directly against the mother's skin, using the mother's body temperature to help keep the premature baby warm. This method not only provides warmth, but also promotes close contact between mother and baby and early breastfeeding. Caregivers should also monitor the premature baby's body temperature regularly. Premature babies have weak temperature regulation functions and are prone to hypothermia or hyperthermia. Therefore, caregivers need to measure the premature baby's body temperature frequently and take appropriate measures based on the measurement results. If the premature baby's body temperature is too low, the ambient temperature can be increased or additional warming measures can be given. If the premature baby's body temperature is too high, the ambient temperature can be lowered or cooling measures can be taken, such as using a cooling blanket.

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2.3 Diet management

The diet of premature infants needs to be adjusted according to their physiological characteristics and physical conditions. The digestive system of premature infants is not fully developed, the stomach capacity is small, and the digestion and absorption function is also weak. Therefore, in the dietary management of premature infants, it is necessary to pay attention to separate feeding and control the amount and frequency of food intake. Generally speaking, the diet of premature infants should be based on breastfeeding. Breast milk is rich in nutrients and antibodies, which helps to enhance the immunity of premature infants. However, if the breast milk supply is insufficient or breast milk cannot be fed, special formula milk powder can be considered, but it is necessary to follow the doctor's advice and guidance. The diet of premature infants should focus on balanced nutrition. Due to their low birth weight, premature infants need additional nutritional support to promote growth and development. The diet should contain sufficient nutrients such as protein, carbohydrates, fat, vitamins and minerals. Nursing staff can choose foods suitable for premature infants to digest and absorb according to the specific situation of premature infants and medical advice, such as premature infant formula milk powder, biscuits, rice noodles, etc. The dietary management of premature infants also requires attention to food safety and hygiene. When feeding premature infants, caregivers should ensure that the food is fresh and clean, and avoid giving expired or spoiled food. Feeding utensils and containers also need to be cleaned and disinfected regularly to prevent bacterial infection. Attention should also be paid to feeding posture to ensure that premature infants are comfortable and avoid choking.

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2.4 Infection Prevention

Because premature infants have an incompletely developed immune system and weak resistance, they are susceptible to various diseases, so infection prevention is very important in premature infant care. Maintaining a clean environment is the key to preventing infection. Nurses need to frequently clean and disinfect the environment around premature infants, especially frequently touched items and surfaces, such as bed sheets, clothing, toys, etc. Nurses must ensure their own hygiene, wash their hands frequently, wear masks, wear clean work clothes, and avoid contact with premature infants during the infection period or when there are symptoms of infectious diseases. Reasonable visitor control is also one of the important measures for infection prevention. The immune system of premature infants is fragile and vulnerable to external pathogens. Therefore, nursing staff should formulate visitor control strategies to control premature infants from contacting unnecessary people, especially those with infectious diseases, and require visitors to wash their hands frequently, wear masks, and avoid long-term contact to reduce the risk of infection.

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2.5 Developmental Monitoring

Because premature infants fail to fully develop in the mother's body, their growth and development may be delayed or abnormal. Weight monitoring is the basis for monitoring the development of premature infants. The weight gain of premature infants needs to be adapted to the gestational age. Nurses should regularly measure the weight of premature infants and record it in the archives to facilitate monitoring of their growth. They should also pay attention to the dietary intake of premature infants and provide adequate nutritional support to promote their normal weight gain. The height and head circumference of premature infants may be smaller than their gestational age, but they should maintain appropriate growth. Nurses should regularly measure the height and head circumference of premature infants and compare them with the corresponding growth curves. If abnormalities are found, they should be reported to the doctor in time for further evaluation and intervention. The neurodevelopment of premature infants also needs to be monitored. Nurses can evaluate their neurodevelopment by observing their behavior and reactions, and can evaluate their cognitive and language development by observing their attention, touch, and language communication.

Conclusion

In short, you must pay attention to the care of premature babies! Premature babies are a special group. They need special attention and care. Nurses need to pay attention to the health of premature babies. Obtaining family support and participation is also an important part of premature baby care. Only through joint efforts can we ensure that premature babies receive the best care and development and let premature babies grow up healthily and happily.