Are you looking for special
baby shower decorations for preemies or twins?
Posted by Guest on September 8, 2010
People seem to harbor the notion that childbirth is some mystical experience that makes women part of a secret club and that mothers inherently know what to do with a baby as soon as it’s in their arms. While giving birth is certainly an amazing and life-changing event, it is neither easy nor predictable, even under the best of circumstances. And if you go into labor prematurely, it can throw everything out of whack, both at the hospital and on the home front. For starters, if you were prepared for a full-term baby, you may not be aware of the special challenges that preemies face, above and beyond the normal demands of caring for a newborn. But if you understand their stages of development, you will have a much easier time meeting their needs (and your own) as they grow.
1. NICU. Depending on how early your baby is born, you may have to spend days, weeks, or months watching them grow inside an incubator at the neonatal intensive care unit. During this time, you will most likely be unable to hold your preemie as he will be covered with monitors, fed intravenously, and given oxygen. This can be extremely difficult for parents who want to hug and comfort their child, but you will have to prepare yourself for love at a distance, especially since it is unrealistic to live in a hospital waiting room for weeks at a time. Just remind yourself that he needs this medical care to survive and he will soon be able to breathe and eat on his own.
2. Coming home. Your baby will be released to go home when his body temperature stabilizes, he gains enough weight, he can be fed by mouth, and his medications can be administered in a home setting.
3. Monitors. When you first bring home your preemie, you may have to monitor his vital signs to ensure that he is breathing and eating properly, as well as avoiding infections (which are common). You will likely be given a monitor that will sound off when breathing stops or his heartbeat becomes too slow. At this point, you will have to resuscitate him by patting him forcefully on the back to jump-start his system. Many parents are apprehensive about harming their babies in this manner, but for the most part, that won’t happen, and when you think about it, you’d rather have them bruised than not have them at all.
4. Growth. Your preemie may remain small for his age for months or even years, but you still need to know that he is developing as he should. So find a growth chart that is adjusted for preemies so that you can ensure his growth patterns are progressing accordingly.
5. Feeding. A good rule of thumb to determine when your preemie should begin to change his diet is to find out when a full-term baby would start ingesting solids and such, then subtract from that the number of weeks your child was born prematurely. This should give you a fairly good notion of when to make the switch.
6. Brain function. It can be hard to tell if an infant’s mental development is progressing as it should even with full-term babies, since they all develop at slightly different rates. And with preemies, there is always the fear of disability in this area. Just be prepared for the fact that it may take them a little longer to begin walking and talking, but they should eventually catch up to other kids their age. If you think you see warning signs of disorder, simply talk to your doctor to determine if it is normal or if you should seek the opinion of a specialist.
Sarah Danielson is a writer for culinary arts schools where you can browse schools and the latest trends in the culinary arena.
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 2, 2010
The news that your baby will be born prematurely may be incredibly difficult to cope with. The complications involved may overshadow the miracle of birth as your anxiety and stress reach terrifying heights concerning your child’s health. Although this situation can be worrisome, there are ways of to handle the premature of your baby that can give you and your family a brighter outlook for the future.
It is a common rule of thumb that the earlier a child is the born, the higher chance there is for complications. It is critical to your child’s survival and ongoing health to receive the proper care needed specifically for a premature baby. This would entail assistance with breathing and maintaining body heat. It is important to understand that feeding your preemie will be an obstacle to overcome. Jaundice, a yellowing of the eyes and skin is a common ailment of premature children. Anemia, a lack of red blood cells to carry oxygen to tissue, is also prevalent in children born prematurely. More critical maladies can include infection, internal bleeding and apnea. By educating yourself about these conditions, a parent can be more prepared to handle the problems a premature baby faces.
It is most likely that your child will be held in NICU, otherwise known as neonatal intensive care unit. This is a place particularly set aside to meet the unique needs of your premature child. Medical professionals are there to care for your babies every need and to help assist you with this difficult time. While your child is in NICU, it is your responsibility to maintain an active role as parent and to discuss your child’s needs with the medical staff.
Often, people fear what they don’t know. It is helpful to you and your child to learn as much as possible about your baby’s current condition. This not only helps reassure yourself, but also helps doctor in assisting you with your needs. By educating yourself, you no longer have to fear the unfamiliar equipment that occupies the NICU. Don’t be afraid of searching out answers, or asking questions. This is a situation in which the more you know, the better.
Although your child may be unable to feed from a bottle, or breast, it is a good idea to establish a routine of pumping milk for later on. Breast milk contains essential proteins that can help your premature baby fight infection and promote steady growth. Once your milk supply is established, it is important to pump at least eight times a day to maintain your flow of milk. Breast milk can always be stored, or frozen for later use at your convenience.
Learning to take care of a premature baby can seem like a daunting task. By initiating feeding and diaper changing in the early stages, it promotes healthy interactions between parent and child. Learn how to speak to your baby with sweet words. This can often be the key to getting your baby to sleep. The bonds established in the child’s youth will carry over into adulthood and it is critical to the baby’s development to have the love and care he needs.
When your baby is finally ready to come home, you may be experiencing a mixture of emotions: relief, worried, excited. Remember as you are taking care of your child to take care of yourself. Recognize your emotions and expect to feel a wide range of them. Don’t be shy about seeking out help when you need it, or taking a break for yourself. It is important to see this time as a positive step in the right direction. Your child can now leave the hospital and will be on its way to progressing as a healthy child at home where he belongs.
Sarah Danielson is a writer for Nursing School Scholarships where you can find jobs, scholarships, and nursing career descriptions.
Photo Credit: César Rincón, Flickr
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.
