The Risks of Having a Second Premature Baby

Posted by Guest Contributor on September 27, 2010

If you’ve already had one preemie baby, then you know what complications may result in a child’s health and development. It can be a very nerve-wracking experience for any parent, and is incredibly dangerous for your newborn. For this reason, it is extremely important that you understand the risk factors in having another premature baby, and do your best to avoid these risks. Here, we will discuss some of the risks, as well as give you some advice on how to eliminate them if possible.

Alcohol Use

Consuming alcohol while pregnant not only puts you at risk for a premature birth, but also puts your baby in danger of a variety of other dangerous health issues—such as Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. It is incredibly important that you understand the serious nature of this, and refrain from consuming any alcoholic beverages while pregnant.

Smoking

Like alcohol, smoking cigarettes is one of the greatest risk factors for the birth of premature babies. The wonderful news is that it is also quite easily controlled. If you are a smoker, and are considering getting pregnant or find that you are pregnant, it is very much encouraged that you quit smoking to avoid birth complications and protect the health of your newborn.

Already Having One Premature Baby

Unfortunately this risk factor is unavoidable, but it is important to understand that having already given birth prematurely puts you at risk for having another early birth. This is particularly true if the births are close together. Because there is nothing you can do about this factor, it is vital that you take all the measures you can control to avoid a premature birth.

Poor Nutrition

Maintaining proper nutrition and keeping a healthy weight are vital to ensuring that no complications arise during your pregnancy. Be sure to keep your BMI in a healthy range, and eat a variety of nutrients. By no means should you be dieting during this time, but eating a healthy and well-balanced meal to provide for both you and the baby.

Age

This is yet another factor that cannot be controlled, however it is important that you be aware of it. Women under the age of 18 and above the age of 30 have a greater risk of giving birth prematurely than those within the range. Again, if this applies to you it is absolutely essential that you take as many controlled precautions as possible.

Untreated Infections

If you are planning a pregnancy, be sure to have any known infections cleared up prior to conceiving. Infections that are left untreated put you at a very high risk for giving birth prematurely. Work with your doctor if you develop an infection to clear the problem up as quickly as possible to reduce the chances of an early birth.

The best defense for avoiding another premature baby is to make sure you are in the best shape you can be—the healthier you are before and during a pregnancy, the less risk you’ll be at for complications. Be sure to work with your doctor to get the proper prenatal care, and keep a proper diet!

Sarah Danielson writes for Pitbull where you can find information on training, health, diet, and food for the popular and often misunderstood breed.

The Impact of a Premature Baby on Your Marriage

Posted by Guest Contributor on September 24, 2010

Facing the realization that your child has been hospitalized can be an extremely traumatic event for a couple. Caring for a premature baby can put strains on your marriage like never before. The crisis that occurs during the crucial first days of your baby’s life is enough stress to last a lifetime. It is essential to your marriage to understand the overwhelming needs of your child while taking special care and consideration for yourself. Adjusting to the next year with your premature baby will be important to your marriage and your child’s development.
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Listening to Mozart music helps premature babies gain weight

Posted by Guest Contributor on September 22, 2010

There are a host of complications that can arise when a baby is born prematurely, which is a concern that many new parents share. According to MSNBC, over 13 million babies are born prematurely, worldwide. This is an alarming number that introduces many anxieties. A new study conducted by Israeli researchers suggests that prematurely born infants may find aid in weight gain—just by listening to Mozart.

The researchers included Dr. Dror Mandel and Dr. Ronit Lubetzky, both staff at the Tel Aviv Medical Center that is affiliated with Tel Aviv University’s Sackler School of Medicine. Results of the study concluded that prematurely born babies that were exposed to 30 minutes of Mozart’s classics per day grew much more quickly than those that were not exposed to the music.

It is not entirely clear what specific processes are in effect to create this change, but a few factors have been highlighted by the researchers. One of these includes the effect the music has on the movement of the infant as he or she listens to the music. It was found that while the music was playing, infants expended less energy—which would allow them to retain more of their caloric intake and promote weight gain.

Weight gain helps a preemie has more benefit than one may realize, as the faster an infant reaches his or her ideal weight, the faster they leave the hospital. Being in a hospital increases the likelihood of an infant contracting illness or infection. Further, immune system strength seems to get stronger as babies approach a healthy weight, which will prevent illness as well.

So does all classical music help preemies gain weight?

It appears not. Researchers commented that Mozart’s music includes melodies that are highly repetitive—particularly compared with that of Beethoven, Bach, or Bartok. This repetitive melody may create the soothing effect experienced by the infants, who tended to be less agitated when exposed to it. This diminishing of stress may also lend to a lessened expense of energy.

What other steps can be taken to help the development of a preemie?

Medical issues aside, development of your preemie may run a similar course as any other child. Ensuring that your baby is healthy is of utmost importance regardless of whether he or she was born prematurely or not. Here are some tips to ensure the proper and healthy development of your infant:

• Be sure that your child receives a lot of stimulatory input—this particularly includes tactile input. This can come in the form of holding, caressing, or any other form of touching. This input will stimulate brain development, as well as strengthen parent/child bonds that will lead to healthy psychological and emotional development as well.

• Other sensory input is incredibly important—sounds, smells, colors, etc. However, understand that exposure to the television does not help your baby’s development, but rather hurts it. It is recommended that no child under the age of five be exposed to too much television, as it causes over stimulation—which can cause complications in psychological development.

• Make sure that your baby gets properly fed. Consult with your doctor to make sure you are properly educated on what your child should be eating, how often, and if any supplements or vitamins are necessary. A malnourished baby will have development issues.

Mozart may not be the answer to all preemie complications, but it certainly shows great promise for future strides in natural treatment of these disadvantaged infants.

Sarah Danielson writes for a medical careers website where you can find tips, advice, and the latest news about jobs in the medical field.