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Premature babies need more care when compared to other babies who had been in the mother’s womb for at least 37 weeks. Having had less time to grow and develop, preterm babies are generally taken to neonatal intensive care until they are ready to be taken home. It’s natural to wonder and worry about taking care of such a tiny baby on your own. Continue reading the article to learn about the different ways you can care for a preterm baby at home.
Preterm Babies
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Babies who are born almost 3 weeks before the estimated due date are considered to be preterm. A premature baby can be born any time before 37 weeks of pregnancy. Based on this, they can be categorized into late preterm, moderately preterm, very preterm, and extremely preterm. Very preterm and extremely preterm babies are likely to have more complications that late preterm babies. Such babies are usually admitted to NICU and given specialized care and treatment by the doctors until they are stable and healthy enough to be sent home (1).
Caring For A Preterm Baby At Home
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Caring for a premature baby can be slightly more demanding than caring for a full-term baby. Below, we discuss a few tips that can help take care of your baby at home.
1. Feeding
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It is always best to breastfeed your baby as breast milk contains everything that the baby needs during the initial stages of development. But if your baby has trouble latching or can’t latch at all, it is advised to pump the breast milk and feed via bottle. If you are still having trouble feeding, discuss it with your doctor as he/she may recommend formula milk for preterm infants.
2. Don’t Change The Baby’s Feeding Schedule
A preterm baby is normally required to be fed 8 to 10 times a day. Make sure you are sticking with the schedule and try not to disrupt it in any way.
3. Stay In Touch With Your Baby’s Doctor
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Just because you have left the hospital doesn’t mean you are fully equipped to take care of the baby on your own. It’s important to be in touch with your doctor so that they can provide better tips on how to take care of your baby based on their development.
4. Provide A Cozy Sleeping Environment
Make sure your baby is lying on a firm mattress without any stuffed toys or pillows. It is also recommended to place them on their backs rather than on their side or stomach to reduce the risk of SIDS (2).
5. Limit Visits
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Since your baby’s immune system has not yet completely developed, it is best to limit the outdoor visits to just the doctor’s appointments. Even then, schedule an appointment beforehand to avoid waiting in line or spending a lot of time in the general waiting room.
6. Limit The Number Of Visitors
We know this one can be tricky since a lot of friends and family members will be excited to meet your baby. However, it is best to limit the number of visitors to your home at this time. Anyone who is sick or has cough or cold should strictly not be allowed. Keeping in mind your baby’s safety, ask the visitors to wash their hands thoroughly before touching or holding your baby.
7. Practice Kangaroo Care
You must be familiar with it by now as you must have done it a few times at the hospital. You can continue the same at home as kangaroo care has been known to promote breastfeeding, improve mother-baby bonding, as well as the overall health of the baby (3).
8. Immunization
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Lastly, make sure your baby is immunized as per his/her schedule. If you happen to miss out on any immunizations, make sure you immediately discuss it with your doctor and schedule an appointment at the earliest.
We hope that our article has helped you understand preterm babies and how to take care of them. Before leaving the hospital, make sure to discuss with your health care provider to understand your responsibilities and learn more about your baby’s care plan.
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