"Seventh to eight but not alive"? Premature babies are more likely to have these dangerous conditions, and care should pay attention to 4 points

gossip

November 17 (tomorrow) is World Prematurity Day. I believe many people have heard the old people say, "They will live on the seventh and the eighth," which is a rumor about premature babies that is circulating among the people in our country.

Rumor has it that premature babies born at eight months of pregnancy have little chance of survival, but those born at seven months of pregnancy can "miraculously" survive . From the perspective of modern medicine, is this statement really scientific? Let's analyze it below.

analyze

What is the definition of a premature baby?

Premature birth refers to delivery after gestation reaches 28 weeks (7 months) but before 37 weeks. Newborns delivered at this time are called premature babies.

Copyrighted stock images, no reproduction is authorized

Why does premature birth occur ?

Premature birth is divided into spontaneous premature birth and therapeutic premature birth.

The most common type of spontaneous preterm birth is premature birth with intact membranes . This can happen because of:

(1) Excessive dilation of the uterine cavity, such as twin or multiple pregnancy, polyhydramnios, etc.

(2) Maternal and fetal stress response: Excessive mental and psychological stress on pregnant women can induce uterine contractions and lead to premature birth.

(3) Intrauterine infection: pathogens enter the uterine cavity through the vagina and cervix, or the pregnant woman's systemic infection spreads to the uterine cavity.

Another type of spontaneous premature birth is premature rupture of membranes . Causes include: history of premature rupture of membranes, poor maternal nutrition, smoking, cervical insufficiency, uterine malformation, intrauterine infection, vaginal inflammation, etc.

Therapeutic premature birth means that due to the health reasons of the mother or fetus, the pregnancy cannot be continued and the pregnancy has to be terminated by induced labor or cesarean section before the fetus reaches 37 weeks.

Is it true that premature babies will survive at the seventh month and not the eighth month ?

Let me tell you the answer first. This statement is unscientific and not rigorous .

Copyrighted stock images, no reproduction is authorized

From the development of the fetus during pregnancy, the degree of maturity of the fetal organs is directly proportional to the gestational age. In other words, the greater the gestational age, the greater the survival rate of the fetus. The development of various organs of a fetus in eight months of pregnancy must be better than that of a fetus in seven months of pregnancy, and the ability to survive premature birth is also stronger . Therefore, there is no scientific basis for the saying that premature babies "will survive at the age of seven or eight".

Premature babies born at eight months of gestation have more complete development of important organs such as the respiratory system, heart, and brain than those born at seven months of gestation. Under the conditions of modern pediatric medicine, they can survive with the assistance of medical means.

What dangerous conditions are premature babies more likely to encounter than full-term newborns ?

Although premature babies have a chance of survival, due to the special characteristics of their bodies, they still face many dangers compared to full-term babies.

Premature babies may have respiratory system abnormalities, immature respiratory center, small number of alveoli, underdeveloped respiratory muscles, low levels of alveolar surfactant, and are prone to respiratory distress syndrome .

Premature infants have poor sucking ability, weak swallowing reflex, and difficulty feeding. Improper feeding can cause necrotizing enterocolitis .

Premature infants have poor renal concentrating function, and improper feeding can cause metabolic acidosis. Premature infants have an imperfect temperature regulation center and poor heat production ability, and are prone to hypothermia or even scleredema when cold .

Copyrighted stock images, no reproduction is authorized

How to care for premature babies ?

In view of the special circumstances of premature infants, the following points should be noted in nursing care:

▶ Pay attention to heat preservation. Maintain appropriate room temperature and relative humidity to keep the skin temperature of premature infants at 36-37 degrees Celsius. Premature infants with birth weight less than 2000g or hypothermia should be placed in an incubator for heat preservation.

▶ Correct feeding Breast milk is the first choice for premature babies. If breast milk is not available, premature infant formula can be used temporarily. For premature babies with weak sucking ability and swallowing reflex, dropper or nasogastric feeding can be used.

▶ Respiratory management: Keep the airway open. Place a cushion under the shoulders of premature infants when they lie on their backs to avoid bending the neck. Give oxygen in case of hypoxemia.

▶ Prevent infection: When in contact with premature babies, keep your hands clean and pay attention to disinfecting the premature baby's utensils.

in conclusion

With the advancement of medicine, the survival rate of premature babies has increased significantly. Under modern medical advanced neonatal life support, many premature babies with a smaller gestational age (less than 28 weeks) can survive. For premature babies, not only can they survive at seven, but they are more likely to survive at eight. Therefore, there is no scientific basis for the saying that "seven can survive and eight cannot survive".

Author: Zhai Yan, Chief Physician, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, Capital Medical University

Reviewer: Wang Shuzhen, Chief Physician, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, Capital Medical University

Planning: Zhong Yanping

Editor: Li Mengxin

The article is produced by "Science Refutes Facts" (ID: Science_Facts). Please indicate the source when reprinting.

The cover image and images within this article are from the copyright gallery. Reprinting and quoting them may lead to copyright disputes.