• April 26, 2024

Until recently, the premature birth of a baby used to have a bad prognosis. Fortunately, the improvement of medical techniques and assistance to newborns has increased the survival of premature . In fact, it is estimated that of the infants born in week 28, approximately 90% survive.

Many of these children may manifest long-term problems, such as developmental or behavioral problems, which continue until childhood or are permanent. How much more premature be the smallest and lowest be your weight at birth, the greater the risk of complications.

Causes and risk factors

A baby is considered to be premature if born before 37 weeks of gestation. The pregnancies Multiple (twins, triplets, etc.) make up about 15% of this type of birth.

Various episodes and conditions of the mother can contribute to the contractions premature, among them: diabetes , heart disease , infections (in the urinary tract or the amniotic membrane ) Y neuropathy .

There are also some problems related to pregnancy that increase risk, such as cervix "insufficient" or weakened (Cervical insufficiency ), congenital anomalies of uterus , history of premature birth, poor nutrition before the first pregnancy ; preeclampsia , development of arterial hypertension with presence of protein in the urine after week 20 of pregnancy, and premature rupture of membranes (placenta previa).

Most obvious symptoms

Because the organs newborns are not fully developed, requires special care until their organic systems have developed enough to keep him alive, without medical support, which can take weeks to months.

In addition to being born with a lower weight, a premature baby can present other physical signs such as:

1. Body hair (lanugo)
2. Abnormal respiratory patterns (irregular and superficial pauses in the breathing calls apnea )
3. Clitoris enlarged (in girls)
4. Breathing problems due to lungs immature (neonatal respiratory distress syndrome) or pneumonia
5. Low muscle tone and lower activity than term babies
6. Problems feeding due to difficulty in sucking or coordinating swallowing and breathing
7. Less body fat
8. Scrotum small, smooth without folds and testicles without descending (in children)
9. Cartilage of the soft and flexible ear
10. Skin thin, smooth, shiny and, often, transparent (you can see the veins under the skin )

One of the most important measures to prevent prematurity is to receive prenatal care in the pregnancy and continue them until the moment of delivery. In some cases it can be treated or delayed by a medication that blocks contractions uterine, although many times these attempts are not effective.

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