Differences between premature and premature babies

Thousands of babies are born prematurely each year and this number is increasing. The reasons are diverse, but the possibility is that the main reasons may be the advanced age of the mothers, in addition to an increase in multiple births or in vitro fertilization, among others. Although the percenta

Although the percentage of premature babies has skyrocketed, medicine in recent decades has taken a complete turn in its treatment, achieving a life expectancy for these children of 90%. However, it is necessary to distinguish the difference between a premature and a large premature.

How is a premature big baby

What is the difference between premature and premature baby? Medically the differences are abysmal when it comes to weeks of gestation, since the smaller the more immature and, therefore, there is an increased risk of complications.

Usually, a person born before the 36th week of gestation is considered premature; whereas a great premature child is born before week 29 and, in addition, usually weighs less than 1.5 kg. It is reasonable, therefore, to think that the consequences in the future for the health of these children will be determined by the degree of prematurity they have. While 10% of those born are premature, so only between 1% and 2% are preterm.

The problems associated with premature babies are not usually very serious, the main difficulties being respiratory problems and some cognitive alteration that is usually detected before the age of 5; however, the problems of the large premature babies are much more relevant due to the extreme immaturity of their organs:

- Before the 29th week of gestation the lungs are not developed so assisted breathing is essential

- The same happens with the feeding that must be done via and, occasionally, they require some surgical interventions so that the baby can function independently of his mother.

- All these complications are aggravated by food and oxygen restrictions caused by their pregnancy outside the womb, which leads to 9% cerebral palsy, cognitive delays or attention deficit and hyperactivity.

Care and future of the big premature baby

Do not take your hands to your head, currently the medical and health staff is very aware of the humanization of the parents and the baby, trying to reduce their stress to a minimum and promoting techniques as simple as effective: skin-to-skin contact, breastfeeding whenever possible, reduce the noise of neonatal units or regular light so that it is as close to the maternal womb.

On the other hand, babies are no longer isolated in incubators where parents can not get close, but interaction with parents is essential from the start; Besides being able to be by your side 24 hours a day, you can participate in their care. In addition, the exits of the hospital try to advance to the maximum since it has been verified that the babies that have gone home gained double the weight that those who remained admitted.

Early stimulation is important from the outset, since it tends to alleviate delays in the child's learning, being necessary a follow-up by psychologists, speech therapists and physiotherapists up to 3 years. Thanks to this type of proposal, and the latest medical advances in this area, we can be much calmer about the quality of life that our baby will have in the future.