Giving Birth to a Premature Baby

Pregnancy and giving birth can be one of the most joyful times in a woman's life. But, if anything goes wrong, such as premature labor, also called preterm labor, it can be one of the most devastating times in a woman's life.

Premature labor is defined as labor that begins before the 37^Th week of gestation and occurs in approximately 8 to 10 percent of all pregnancies. According to the National Institute of Child Health & Human Development, premature labor is the biggest cause of infant mortality in the United States.

What Causes Premature Labor?

Remarkably, the medical community knows very little about what causes premature labor, though there are certain risk factors that appear to increase the chances of it occurring.

• Pregnancy with multiples

• Previous premature birth

• Certain uterine or cervical abnormalities

Did I Cause the Premature Birth?

In spite of the fact that very little is known about the actual causes of premature labor, most women struggle with feelings of guilt, believing they are somehow responsible for causing it to happen.

If you've given birth to a premature baby, (a preemie) but, you have taken good care of yourself and sought regular prenatal care, chances are you did nothing at all.

Telling the mother of a premature baby not to feel guilty or that she didn't cause it to happen, however, is a tall order. Feelings of shock, guilt and shame are very common. Nonetheless, it is very, very important that you do not blame yourself.

Preemies need the tender loving care of their mother to help them survive and thrive. If you are burdened with guilt and shame over the premature delivery, it will be difficult for you to nurture and properly care for your baby. So, for your baby's sake, resist those feelings.

What Can You Do for Your Baby in the NICU?

Premature babies spend anywhere from 2 weeks to several months in the hospital NICU or Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, after they are born. Depending on how early your baby was born, you may be heavily involved in their care or forced to be a mere bystander while the NICU staff gives your child the lifesaving care that it needs.

Inadequate lung development is a serious issue with preemies born at least 4 weeks early, which means they will require ventilators to help them breathe.

The ventilators are attached to the baby via tubes, wiring and small monitoring pads attached to their bodies. In addition to the ventilators, your baby may also be kept in an incubator to help them maintain their body temperature.

Seeing your baby like this can be quite heart-wrenching, emotional and stressful, particularly since you can't hold or cuddle them when you want to.

As your baby grows and gets stronger, however, you will be able to hold him or her more and more. Until then, there are usually strict visiting schedules. Depending on the health of your baby, you may be able to hold them outside of the incubator about every 4 hours, for approximately 15 minutes each time.

Most NICUs will have a private room set up for mothers with rocking chairs, quiet music and dim lighting to give you time to hold, rock and nurture your baby. These times with your baby are very important.

The sound of your voice, your touch and closeness of your body is deeply important to the growth, development and well-being of your preemie. Don't miss those times to bond and be close to him or her. You both will need it.

Breastfeeding a Premature Baby

If your baby is severely premature you will not be able to nurse right away. However, since your milk will be coming in, you can pump and store it for the NICU staff to give to the baby. Many hospitals even provide top of the line breast pumps for you to take home and use.

Breast milk, particularly the colostrum that comes in first, is extremely helpful to your preemie. It contains necessary antibodies, proteins and carbohydrates that your baby will need during its very precarious first few weeks of life.

Since your baby will not be to suck, the milk will be given to the baby via tubes, but in due time, as the sucking instinct develops, you will be able to nurse your baby normally if that is what you wish to do.

How Long Will Your Baby Be in the Hospital?

Certain milestones must be reached before your preemie will be able to come home. Sadly, many premature babies spend months in the NICU before they are strong enough to come home and when they do they continue to have serious health problems for many months.

Assuming your baby is well enough to leave the NICU, he or she will need to reach a healthy body weight, usually around 5 lbs, maintain its body temperature and be able to suck and breathe on its own.

What Can You Expect When You Take Your Baby Home?

Many preemies are sent home with breathing machines to help the parent monitor any potential apnea (failing to breathe) issues that may still be present. If the baby stops breathing during the day or night, the monitor will sound. Picking the baby up or stimulating it in some way is all that is needed for it to begin breathing again.

This can be a very stressful for you in the beginning, but preemies grow out of this stage within a few weeks to a few months. So, though it is difficult and unnerving, it is not forever. Some physicians may also give the child a drug, such as theophylline, to relax and open the airways and lungs to help the baby breathe.

Most hospitals have a program that follows the growth and development of premature babies born in their hospital, usually the first two years. You will be able to participate (and likely required) in the program for free.

The baby is seen by physicians and other medical professionals who will help you with any questions you may have and guide you through the necessary developmental stages of your baby.

These follow-up programs provide the medical community with much needed medical data to be used with other premature babies. You will have the benefit of well trained professionals to help you through those subsequent months and first two years of your baby's growth. It's a win-win for everybody.

Life with a Preemie

As a mother of a preemie, I can tell you that most premature babies not only recover from the trauma of their premature birth, but thrive as well.

As your baby grows and reaches milestones, the dark days surrounding their birth will fade and you will have the joy of parenting and loving your child. Some premature babies may have learning and development delays, but, in due time, most catch up.

While the ideal situation is to never have to face a premature birth, today's medicine and advances in neonatal intensive care make it virtually guaranteed that your baby will be able to lead and normal and healthy life.

Sources:

"Research on Premature Labor & Preterm Birth". October 20, 2006. NICHD.NIH.gov. August 30, 2010. http://www.nichd.nih.gov/womenshealth/research/pregbirth/preterm.cfm

"Premature Labor". August 30, 2010. American Pregnancy.org. August 30, 2010. http://www.americanpregnancy.org/labornbirth/prematurelabor.html

"What is Colostrum? How Does it Benefit My Baby?" September 2, 2010. La Leche League.org. September 2, 2010. http://www.llli.org/FAQ/colostrum.html

"Premature Babies: Learning and Disabilities" September 2, 2010. About Kids Health.ca. September 2, 2010. http://www.aboutkidshealth.ca/prematurebabies/Learning-and-Disabilities.aspx?articleID=7787&categoryID=PI-nh5-05b