premature births hazy memory for 1 mum

how can a mums premature births be such a haze ? its because it all happens unexpectedly. if the membranes rupture very early on the hospital staff whisk a baby off in an instance to be looked after in the neonatal care unit. On occasions its also been known for a mum to experience ptsd after a preterm delivery. There’s a lot of stress involved from birth until even after a prem baby is finally allowed home. There is a lot of support available including a good website called bliss.

premature births how common is it in women?

premature births in women under 40

premature births happens when a baby is born before the completion of 37 weeks instead of full-term delivery at approximately 40 weeks. Today premature births remains the greatest contributor to infant death globally. It is estimated that 60,000 babies in the UK are born each year prematurely. That means 1 out of 13 babies in the UK is born prematurely.

The survival rate and development depend on how early the baby was delivered before the due date. The earlier a baby is born, the more likely the baby will suffer from complications that require special care in a special or intensive neonatal care unit.

The health implications of being born early extend far beyond birth. Some babies born prematurely are technically not ready for life outside the womb, and the vital organs are not completely formed. They run the risk of respiratory distress and immature brains or often have lifelong effects such as mental retardation, cerebral palsy, visual and hearing impairments, a dental problem that can occur, along poor health and growth.

Each day in the womb is essential to a baby’s healthy development and survival. For Instance, in the UK, babies born at 23 weeks have a 92% chance of having a disability. However, if that baby stays an extra week in the womb, the odds of survival increases as the pregnancy progresses. The chance of having a disability decreases to 41%.

Premature babies may develop both short-term and long-term health problems. The two most serious implications of premature births are respiratory problems and immature brains

Respiratory Problems

Premature babies usually have breathing problems and require supplemental extra oxygen and support from a ventilator. Respiratory distress happens when a baby’s lungs are not fully developed and cannot provide enough oxygen. A baby usually produces surfactants between the 24th and 28th pregnancy and produces enough to breathe normally by week 34. If your baby is born prematurely, they may not have enough surfactants, which prevents the air sacs in the lungs from deflating.

Immature Brain

Premature births can lead to long-term intellectual and developmental disabilities for babies. When babies are born prematurely, their normal brain development is interrupted, and they are more likely to have problems with how the brain works. The immature brain can cause a person to have trouble or delay in communicating, learning, physical development, and taking care of himself.

Some long-term implications linked to premature births include

• Hearing and vision problems: Vision and hearing deficits are common in premature babies.
• Cerebral palsy: This common neurological movement is due to abnormal brain development or injury. This can cause problems with movement, posture, and balance.
• Chronic health issues: this includes the risk of heart disease, epilepsy, feeding issues, asthma, infection, and (SIDS) sudden infant death syndrome.
• Cognitive impairment: Premature birth may affect a child’s intellectual development.
• Learning disabilities: May appear when the kid starts school.
• Development delays: Premature babies have a slower growth rate.
• Mental health conditions: Premature babies are linked to higher social/emotional issues such as behavior problems, anxiety, and depression.
• Neurological disorders: These conditions impact the brain, spinal cord, and nerves throughout the body.