Premature Infancy
Premature babies, otherwise known as preterm babies, or preemies, are
babies that are born earlier than the full-term of thirty-eight to forty-two
weeks of pregnancy. These babies are generally born between the twentieth and
thirty-eighth week. Almost 250,000 babies, nearly seven percent of newborns,
are premature(Golant 4). Prematurity, even with all the advances in technology,
is still a major cause of fetal and neonatal death. Actually, around seventy-
five percent of perinatal deaths are due to a number of problems associated
with prematurity(Freeman 232). Premature babies are very weak and defenseless,
and need to be hospitalized. One reason for this is that a baby may ...
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the child is born before the thirty sixth week, he/she may
require some special attention. Usually, the child is monitored closely for
the first few weeks of its life, in order to make sure there is no problems
with the breathing or any other function of its body. The premature baby will
probably need supplemental oxygen to help it through the early stages, but
rarely will it need an actual respirator or other life-supporting device on a
full-time twenty four hour basis. In fact, giving the baby too much oxygen may
complicate problems, such as damages to the eyes. This is caused by a over-
abundance of oxygen in the blood stream, which in turn causes the blood vessels
of the eye to expand, damaging the eye. This problem is one of the main
concerns when bearing a pre-term baby versus a full-term baby.
Another difference, probably the most noticeable one, is the size and
weight of the baby. A preemie will look thin and helpless, and will also have
transparent skin. Blood vessels, ...
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will actually act on the fetus, since test results can vary so
differently from person to person, and also because these results are very
unpredictable. For this reason, women are rarely prescribed drugs while
pregnant, unless when needed or under the care and supervision of their doctor.
Caring for a premature baby can be very tough for parents at times.
Since they are urged not to handle the baby much, it makes it very hard for the
baby to receive much attention, and also for the parent to see the baby as
often as s/he wants to. Feeding a preemie may be a very difficult and
cumbersome task. Some preterm babies are fed through an umbilical artery
catheter, a tube placed through the ...
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Premature Infancy. (2007, February 8). Retrieved December 23, 2024, from http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Premature-Infancy/60015
"Premature Infancy." Essayworld.com. Essayworld.com, 8 Feb. 2007. Web. 23 Dec. 2024. <http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Premature-Infancy/60015>
"Premature Infancy." Essayworld.com. February 8, 2007. Accessed December 23, 2024. http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Premature-Infancy/60015.
"Premature Infancy." Essayworld.com. February 8, 2007. Accessed December 23, 2024. http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Premature-Infancy/60015.
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