Preemie Party

http://www.preemiebabies101.com

Imagine holding your hand out and having a baby, a living breathing baby placed into it, fitting perfectly. This may be some sort of weird dream or even impossible for you to imagine but this happens. Babies are born weighing mere ounces, and they are called preemies, or premature babies and for their parents, this is a reality.

Full-term babies are born during gestation week 40 if a baby is born at 37 weeks or sooner, it is a preemie. According to"Premature Baby? Understanding Your Preemie's Special Needs", published by a well-known Medical Education and Research Association, Mayo Clinic, many health issues come with babies who are born prematurely because they have yet to grow to the size they are supposed to be when the face the world. Many of their organs are underdeveloped, the can have respiratory issues and trouble with vision and hearing.With babies being so small and fragile, preemies require a different type of care than that of full-term babies. Preemies are more likely to hemorrhage or bleed out. As the field of medicine adapts and changes alongside our country's technological advancement, the cause of preterm labor remains unknown.

Many babies that are born prematurely happen because of the mother’s health or lifestyle choices. However, more often than not, the cause for preterm labor is unknown. It is more common to happen to young mothers and mothers in their late 30s due to the amount of stress placed on the mother's body. After a baby this small is born, he too, is usually in distress. Fetal distress is a serious issue, that is taken care of in the NICU. "What is a NICU?" you might ask, and for that answer, you'll have to read my next post.