Are you looking for special
baby shower decorations for preemies or twins?
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.
Fostering a sharing and caring environment at home is nothing short of difficult. Especially for twins, who are often times expected to be each other’s best friends, expectations can be overwhelming.
Bunk beds for your twins can grant them individual spaces while still learning valuable lessons about compromise and cooperation. The bunk bed helps save space in the kids’ room while your twins work together toward a common goal, whether it be making the bed or deciding who gets to sleep on the top bunk. Comfortable, secure, stylish, and a space saver, bunk beds can also be a vital learning tool for teaching your kids an important lesson in cohabitation.
Posted by Guest on September 6, 2010
A normal, full-term pregnancy lasts for 39 weeks, while babies prior to the 37th week of gestation are considered premature. Twins who are born prior to the 37th week of gestation are considered premature twins. Preemie twins, as they are often called, are at higher risk for health complications than twins carried full-term. While twins born prematurely normally have problems, that doesn’t mean every set of twins born premature will suffer from health difficulties.
Premature baby complications can include (but are not limited to):
Short-term Complications:
Infections
* Various infections due to low immunity
* Necrotizing Enterocolitis (NEC)- a section of the intestine develops restricted blood flow, which can lead to infection in the bowel wall
* Sepsis- bacteria in the blood stream
Respiratory/Lung Issues -
* Pneumonia- a lung infection
* Immature (underdeveloped) lungs
* Repiratory Distress Syndrome (RDS) – harsh, irregular breathing and difficulties due to the lack of surfactant in the lungs, which helps avoid collapsing of the lungs
* Transient Tachypnea- rapid, shallow breathing
* Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia (BPD)- deterioration of the lungs
* Apnea- absence of breathing
Eye Problems -
* Retinopathy of Prematurity(ROP)- eye disorder that can result in blindness
Other Complications -
* Incapability to sustain body heat
* Intraventricular Hemorrhage (IVH)- bleeding in the brain…can lead to future complications such as cerebral palsy, mental retardation and learning difficulties.
* Anemia- insufficient amount of red blood cells.
* Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA)- a cardiac disorder that causes breathing difficulties after delivery due to an open blood vessel (the ductus arteriosus)
* Jaundice- a yellowing of the skin caused by the buildup of substances in the blood called bilirubin
* Immature gastrointestinal and digestive systems- gastrointestinal systems that are too immature to safely absorb nutrients
Possible long-term complications:
* Delayed growth and development
* Retinopathy of prematurity, vision loss, or blindness
* Mental or physical disability or delay
* Cerebral palsy, mental retardation and learning difficulties may result from Intraventricular Hemorrhage (IVH)
* Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD)
Premature baby twins often have to spend some time in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) to recover from the health complications listed above (or others). The professionals in the NICU will be able to provide you with a plethora of premature baby info and guide you through the entire process. The doctors and nurses working in the NICU deal with all kinds of preemie babies… premature babies born at 27 weeks, 32 weeks, etc. This can be a very stressful time for the twins, the mother and the support circle, so it is important to remain calm and relax in knowing that the trained staff of a NICU is equipped to deal with any situation that may arise.
Fortunately, “Overall, very premature twins fare just as well as single babies born very early, and they may even face a lower risk of certain complications, new research shows,” according to a Reuters Health article. Because premature birth is much more common among twins than single births, twin babies born premature often require special medical attention and love. Every situation is different, but it imperative for every expecting mother to receive proper pre-natal care as soon she knows she is expecting.
Jessica Ker, from www.healthcarecolleges.net, is a writer and educator. She has worked in the healthcare industry for 5 years and now spends her time educating parents and students in a variety of subject matters.
We appreciate this month's PreemieTwins.com sponsor of Gainsville AC service who helps us provide free resources for parents of premature infants and multiples.
