Giving birth is a life-changing emotional experience. You get to hold your baby after carrying them in your womb for nine months. The birth of a baby is the most joyous day for parents, but it becomes stressful for some. Not all journeys into parenthood follow the conventional timeline. Some babies arrive in the world before 37 weeks of pregnancy is complete.
While parents are happy that their little bundle is alive, seeing them at the NICU is heart-wrenching. About 380,548 premature births were reported in the U.S. in 2022. These figures indicate you’re not alone; premature babies are born to over a hundred thousand parents.
Parents of preemies are the happiest when they take their little ones home. But they are equally overwhelmed and uncertain about how to provide their bundle of joy the best care. You must also experience similar feelings—don’t you? But don’t worry; here, we’ll share a few things that you must know about premature babies. Knowing them will make it easy for you to care for your little one.
#1 Temperature Regulation is Important
Term babies have fat beneath their skin that insulates them by retaining heat and fluid. But your premature baby doesn’t have this protective fat. Regulating body temperature, therefore, will be difficult for them. Once your baby is at home, it will be your duty to keep them warm and cozy.
Your preemie might have needed an isolette in the hospital, but they won’t need that at home. An extra layer of clothing will be enough to help them maintain their body temperature. For additional warmth, you can use sleep sacks or lightweight blankets.
Pay attention to the room temperature, too. It must neither be too hot nor too cold. The best temperature for a baby’s room is between 68°F to 72°F or 20°C to 22°C. Aim for that.
Avoid overheating your premature baby, however. If the weather is warm, there is no need to use a cap indoors. Likewise, you must use a cellular blanket with lots of little holes in it to prevent overheating your little one.
#2 Nutritional Needs of Preemies Are Unique
Preemies are smaller than term babies. Their organs are immature and are still developing. Their nutritional needs, thus, are different from that of a term baby.
Your premature baby will require more protein, calories, and other nutrients than a term baby. Though nutritious, your breast milk won’t deliver all the nutrients your preemie needs to grow into a healthy human being. You will have to add milk fortifiers to your breast milk to meet your baby’s extra nutritional needs.
Choose any milk fortifier but Enfamil. The brand has been under fire because its baby formula is linked with necrotizing enterocolitis. NEC, or necrotizing enterocolitis, is a gastrointestinal disease that affects premature babies’ intestinal tract. This life-threatening illness is characterized by the inflammation of the intestine, which results in the death of the intestinal tissue.
More than a hundred Enfamil lawsuits are filed by parents whose children developed NEC after being fed with its milk fortifiers. Some studies, TorHoerman Law comments, suggest that liquid protein-based fortifiers like Enfamil’s human milk fortifier might increase preemies’ risk of NEC.
Early this year, the Illinois District Court ordered Mead Johnson to pay $60 million in damages to Jasmine Watson, who filed the Enfamil lawsuit. Watson sued Mead Johnson because her premature baby developed NEC after being fed Enfamil’s products. In her lawsuit, she blamed the manufacturer for failing to warn parents about the risks associated with the use of its products in preemies.
Thus, you should steer clear of Enfamil. There are many alternatives available, but we advise you to consult a pediatrician to be on the safe side.
#3 Premature Babies Have Sensitive Skin
All babies’ skin is sensitive. But the skin of preemies is thin and tender. It is because their skin doesn’t develop fully at birth.
Some premature babies’ skin is prone to dryness or peeling. This is mainly because the skin finds it a bit hard to adjust to the dry, cooler temperature of the outside world from the warm and wet womb environment. Keeping this in mind is important, especially when you’re shopping for skincare products.
Caring for your preemie’s sensitive skin involves using products that are mild. Go for body washes, soap, and shampoos that are made of natural and hypoallergenic ingredients. They should also not contain any fragrance. Products with fragrance can irritate your baby’s sensitive skin and might even cause allergic reactions.
Even when it comes to wipes, opt for those that are free from scents. Or, you can simply use a washcloth if you want.
To wrap things up, caring for a premature baby might seem like an uphill battle, but it isn’t. Try understanding your baby’s unique needs—be it nutritional or skin care. It will help you navigate the challenges of caring for them and provide them with the best possible care. In case of any queries, consult your preemie’s pediatrician. They will help you overcome any challenges that come your way.
