Hospital Care for a Premature Infant
Premature infants are born before the 37th week gestation. The earlier an infant is born, the greater the chance special care will be required before the infant is discharged from the hospital.
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Preemies with RSV Face More Hospital Time in First 6 Months
In some children, an RSV infection can be quite serious. These kids are much more likely to spend time in a hospital due to RSV during the first six months of their lives than most kids.
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Enzyme May Hold Key to Brain Damage Treatment
During childbirth, the infant may spend a significant amount of time in
the birth canal. If too much time passes, the infant may suffer from
birth asphyxia. Birth asphyxia occurs when the brain does not get enough
oxygen during childbirth.
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Premature Babies at Higher Risk of Disorganized Attachment
Researchers from the University of Warwick (UK) may have found a
connection between neurological development and parent-child attachment.
According to the study, infants born prematurely have twice the risk of
suffering disorganized attachment.
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The Flu Is Really Tough on Preemies
Research indicates the flu is really tough on preemies, many of whom are already battling other physical ailments associated with their early births.
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Preemies More Likely To Be Left-Handed
Children born early are almost twice as likely to be left-handed rather than right-handed, according to author Sharon Moalem, MD, PhD. Moalem explores the health implications of handedness.
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Link Between Brain Chemicals and Developmental Problems in Newborns
Scientists have discovered a new way to determine whether a preterm infant is at risk for motor development problems.
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Anna Faris Welcomes First Child
Anna Faris and husband Chris Pratt are thrilled to welcome their first child, a boy, into the world.
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Premature Labor Symptoms and Signs - When To Call The Doctor
Premature labor and delivery is the #1 reason for newborn death. You should call the doctor or go to the hospital if you have any of these symptoms or signs.
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Risk of SIDS Sudden Death Infant Syndrome Linked to Smoking
Babies born to mothers who smoke are at increased risk for SIDS.
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There is a New HeRO for Premature Infants
J. Randall Moorman, a cardiologist from the University of Virginia co-invented the HeRO system to reduce the number of fatalities in the premature population.
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Special Follow-Up Care for Low Birth Weight Infants
Being born low birth weight is often associated with prematurity. If
your infant was born full term with no complications, but weighed less
than 5.5 pounds, the term low birth weight may be used, but special care
considerations and programs will not apply, in most cases.
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Hospital Care of Small for Gestational Age Infants
Small for gestational age is a medical term used to describe the weightand gestational age of an infant. Just because an infant is small forgestational age doesn't mean extra care is needed or that the infantwill have long-term medical issues.
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Evaluating Current Ventilation Therapies in Preterm Infants
Ventilation and other medical interventions are often used on pre-term
infants to improve lung function and prolong early life long enough to
allow the lungs to develop properly and sustain life without medical
intervention.
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Famous Preemies: Anna Pavlova
Anna Pavlovna Matveyevna was born several weeks early in Russia in 1881 to a laundry-maid mother and an unknown father. She became one of the most celebrated ballerinas of all time.
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Famous Preemies: Stevie Wonder
Stevie Wonder was born six weeks early in Saginaw, Michigan. The oxygen-rich environment of his incubator led to retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). The baby was blind.
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Famous Preemies: Winston Churchill
The circumstances surrounding the birth of Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill read like a Victorian novel, full of intrigue, innuendo, and hints of scandal.
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Music, Mom’s Voice Help Preemies Eat Better
A recent study has found that parents can help their premature baby significantly. The research team used music and the mother's voice to encourage preemies to feed themselves effectively in the NICU.
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NICU Volunteer “Cuddlers” Embrace Labor of Love
For some very lucky preemies, NICU volunteer 'cuddlers' come to the rescue. These volunteers are trained to hold and comfort NICU babies when parents and nurses can't be there.
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Famous Preemies: Derek Paravicini
When Derek Paravicini was born on July 26, 1979, at 25 weeks, he was given oxygen therapy as standard procedure. The oxygen is said to have caused blindness and severe learning disabilities.
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Surprise Finding: Preemies Face COPD in Mid-20s
Adults born prematurely (ex-preterms) and diagnosed with BPD are at increased for developing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
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Premature Babies Soothed by Lullabies
A new study published in the journal Pediatrics claims lullabies are
more than soothing songs to lure baby to sleep. Premature infants
treated in NICUs (neonatal intensive care units) showed improvements in
health associated with lullabies.
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Polyamines in Human Breast Milk for Preterm and Term Infants
Researchers from the University of Murcia, in Spain, recently published a
study revealing the differences between the level of polyamines in the
breast milk of mothers born to preterm infants and the breast milk of
mothers with infants born term.
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Viruses Found in Stool Samples of Premature Infants
Researchers from the Prince of Wales Hospital recently published a study in the Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health revealing specific viruses and prevalence of infection in infants admitted to neonatal intensive care units (NICU).
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Baby-Friendly NICU to Support Kangaroo Care
The neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) is where premature and
special needs neonates spend the first days, weeks or months of their
new lives.
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Feeding Your Low Birth Weight Infant
Low birth weight is defined as an infant weighing less than 2,500 grams
or about 5.5 pounds. Low birth weight infants can be born at any time
during gestation so not all cases involve premature delivery.
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Home Care of Small for Gestational Age Infants
When parents give birth to a small for gestational age (SGA) infant it can be a
scary experience. That tiny little bundle of joy may need additional
care in the hospital before being released and some of that care may
extend months or years into the future, but extra care is not always
needed.
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Caring for Your Large for Gestational Age Infant
A large for gestational age infant is born weighing more than 90% of all
other infants born at the same gestational age. For instance, if an
infant is born at 37 weeks weighing in excess of 10 pounds, that infant
is termed large for gestational age.
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Use of Hydralazine in Preterm Infants
Researchers from the Stollery Children's Hospital recently published a
study in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews on the potential
effect of using the drug Hydralazine to prevent such deaths.
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Breast Milk Fortification and Preterm Infants
Researchers from the University of York recently published a study in
the Cochrane Database of Systematic Review on the implications of
fortifying breast milk to speed up growth and facilitate
neurodevelopment in preterm infants.
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Brain Development and Slower Growth in Preterm Infants
Researchers recently
published a study in the journal Science Translational Medicine
regarding a possible link between brain development and slower growth in
preterm infants.
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Sight-Saving Eye Drops Trigger Preemie Heart Attack
The Journal of the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus carries the story of a premature baby undergoing a preventive treatment that saves the eyesight of many preemies.
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Intubating Neonates May Cause Tooth Defects
Researchers from the Universidade Federal do Parana have reported
cases of tooth defects in neonates intubated soon after birth. All
infants included in the study were intubated in the hospital after
preterm delivery - prior to the 35th week gestation.
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Changes in Serum Procalcitonin After Birth
According to researchers from the Department of Pediatrics at Peking
University Third Hospital, serum procalcitonin levels reach peak levels
and decline to normal levels within 96 hours of birth for most infants,
including premature infants.
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Language Skills Improve When Parents Talk to Preemies
A new study indicates the more words per hour a preemie hears in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), the sooner s/he catches up on language.
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Low Birth Weight Babies: Hospital and Home Care
Infants born weighing less than 2,500 grams (5.5 pounds) are considered low birth weight. Some low birth weight infants are born premature while others are born on-time, but weigh less than average.
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Benefits of Immediate NICU High-Frequency Breathing Support
One of the toughest hurdles that premature babies must overcome is breathing. Preemies almost always require breathing support in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).
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Bariatric Surgery Risk: Preterm and Low Birth Weight Babies
Women who have had bariatric surgery have higher risks for early delivery during pregnancy and having babies who were small for their gestational age, according to a new study published in BMJ.
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Increasing Mean Arterial Blood Pressure in Preterm Infants
A study in the Archives of Diseases in childhood reports a possible new
treatment for increasing mean arterial blood pressure (MABP) in preterm
infants. Doctors administered tocolytic indomethacin to 18 mothers in
preterm labor.
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Prematurity Linked to Increased Risk of Heart Disease
Premature delivery of a baby comes with a long list of potential complications, including prolonged hospital stays, difficulty breathing and difficulty maintaining proper body temperature due to low levels of fat on the neonatal body.
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Scotland Considers Adding Gestation Length to School Records
Researchers in Scotland have proposed adding gestation length to a child's school records to identify the preemies so school teachers will know which kids might need a little special attention.
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Characteristics of Neonatal Hypoglycemia
A new report published in the Journal of Pediatric Endocrinology and Metabolism examines the common characteristics of infants admitted to neonatal units for hypoglycemia to give medical professionals a set of guidelines or common factors in infants affected by the condition.
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Feeding Performance of Preterm Neonates on Paladai Feeding
According to researchers from the Department of Pediatrics at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, paladai (beaked receptacle) feeding can be effective in preterm infants as young as 30 weeks postconceptional age (PCA).
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Extreme Prematurity Linked With Neurodevelopmental Problems
According to a new meta-analysis study published in JAMA Pediatrics, researchers from the Ottawa Hospital in Canada report an increased risk of neurodevelopmental problems in infants, and an extreme risk when associated with gestational age at birth.
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The Impact of Mom's Voice on Low Birth Weight Babies
Very low birth weight (VLBW) infants are typically born prematurely. If the fetus remained in utero for the duration of pregnancy, weight gain would have increased during the last few weeks.
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Students Save Struggling Newborns Around the World
Four students enrolled in Stanford University's Design for extreme affordability course developed an innovative new incubator that mothers in remote villages around the world are using to save the lives.
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Improved Care for Preemies With Cognitive Disabilities
The death rate of premature infants dropped from 90% to 20% from 1950 to
2000. The drop is associated with advances in critical care.
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‘Kangaroo Care’ Boosts Mother-Child Bond and Preemie Health
The human touch is important. One person touching another, skin to skin, may be most important when establishing a bond between a mother and her newborn child.
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Nasal vs. Oral: Feeding Tube Placement in Preterm Infants
Feeding tube placement in preterm and/or low birth weight infants is crucial to comfort and overall health. Nasal tubes can interfere with proper breathing and respiration while oral tubes are more likely to cause irritation or become displaced during hospitalization.
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A New Life-Saving Device for Preemies
At Rice University in Houston, Texas one group of their students has turned to shoe boxes and aquarium pumps to bring the breath of life to babies born prematurely.
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