Seven are alive and eight are not alive, there is no scientific reason
Q Elderly people often say that premature babies live seven times and die eight times. This means that a premature baby born at seven months\’ gestation has a higher chance of survival than a premature baby born at eight months\’ gestation. Is this reasonable?
Wan Weilin, deputy chief physician of pediatrics at Peking Union Medical College Hospital: This statement has no scientific basis. The longer the mother is pregnant and the closer the term baby is to normal gestation, the greater the chances of survival and return to normal life. In addition, the better the early intervention and care, and the more complete the cooperation between parents and hospitals, the greater the possibility that premature babies can return to normal life.
Three levels of home care for premature infants
As the saying goes, pregnancy lasts for ten months. When the fruit is ripe, it is natural and complete. But clinically, a considerable number of newborns are \”reported in advance.\” According to statistics, the premature birth rate in Guangdong Province is as high as 9%, slightly higher than the national level. This situation has attracted the attention of neonatologists. Yang Jie, director of the neonatal department of Guangdong Maternal and Child Health Hospital, said that pregnant women are under great mental stress during pregnancy, and diseases such as high blood pressure and diabetes, as well as unexplained infections, are all causes of discomfort during pregnancy. Increase in premature births. The survival rate of premature infants is low, and home care after discharge is important.
Nearly 10% of premature births are caused by excessive mental stress
Babies born before 37 weeks of gestation and with a birth weight less than 2500 grams are called premature babies. According to statistics, in recent years, the proportion of premature babies has shown a significant upward trend. According to national large-sample epidemiological survey data, premature infants accounted for 7.7% of the total number of newborns in 2002, rising to 8.1% in 2005. The latest survey shows that the incidence of premature babies in Guangdong Province is about 9%, which is higher than the national level. About 100 premature babies are born every month in Guangdong Maternal and Child Health Hospital. Most of these premature babies are born between 28-30 weeks. Director Yang Jie said that this is related to the fact that pregnant women are under great mental stress, have underlying diseases, and are susceptible to infection.
Yang Jie said that they recently gave birth to a pair of twins who were only 24 weeks pregnant, and each newborn weighed less than 500 grams. It is worth noting that twins and multiple births in IVF are prone to premature birth, so do not create twins artificially.
Premature babies are born with deficiencies, home care is very important
Because the organs in the body are immature, premature infants have difficulty adapting to sudden changes in the environment outside the womb and are prone to various complications and even death. Yang Jie said that generally speaking, with the help of medical staff and parents, premature babies have to pass three tests.
The first level: keep warm
Premature babies are basically placed in an incubator when they are born. Because of premature birth, the baby\’s body temperature center is not fully developed. You can only give him or her a warm environment to ensure that it is always at a moderate temperature. At this temperature, the human body consumes the least oxygen, loses the least evaporative heat, and has the lowest metabolism. Wait until the child reaches the standard weight and can adapt to the outside temperature before removing it from the incubator.Come out.
Yang Jie said, but many premature babies go home after being discharged from the hospital. Due to poor insulation measures, they often seek medical treatment for colds and fevers.
Expert advice: Since premature babies are very sensitive to temperature, parents should pay attention to keeping the child\’s body temperature and indoor temperature appropriate after discharge, and not too cold or too hot. In summer, the indoor temperature should be maintained at 26-28°C. The indoor temperature is preferably around 24°C. Such a temperature is not only conducive to the catch-up growth of premature infants, but also reduces the chance of infection.
Level 2: Cleaning
After premature babies go home, it is best to take a bath every day, even if they do not sweat. But many parents are afraid to bathe their children because they are afraid that they will catch cold. Therefore, it is often found that premature babies who do not pay attention to cleaning have erosion in skin folds such as the neck and thighs.
Yang Jie believes that premature babies’ skin is immature and prone to infection. Bathing them is not only a simple hygiene issue, but also an important means to prevent your baby\’s skin infections.
Expert advice: Give your baby a bath, preferably one hour after feeding. When taking a bath, the indoor temperature should be suitable, especially in winter, the indoor temperature should generally be maintained between 26-28°C. The water temperature is controlled at around 40°C. Mothers can test the water temperature with the inside of their wrist to make sure it is not hot. When bathing, be careful not to get your baby\’s belly button wet. If it gets wet, disinfect it with alcohol and then dry it with a cotton swab. Keep your belly button clean and dry to avoid infection.
Level 3: Feeding
Preterm infants have weak sucking ability, poor swallowing function, and small stomach capacity, which can easily cause suffocation and suffocation. In addition, various digestive enzymes are insufficient, and the digestion and absorption function is also poor. Therefore, scientific feeding is very important after returning home from hospital. When parents prepare formula, it should not be too thick or too thin. The temperature should also be moderate. Mothers can drop the brewed milk on the back of their hands to ensure that it does not burn their hands. Feed slowly to prevent your baby from choking due to eating too fast.
Experts recommend that baby bottles should be boiled and sterilized regularly, and windows should be opened regularly indoors to ensure fresh air. Since children have low immunity, avoiding intestinal and respiratory infections is the key to improving the survival rate of premature infants.