Research Article : Outcomes For Extremely Premature Infants

According to the World Health Organization (WHO, 2016), preterm birth are the birth that happened before 37 ended weeks of pregnancy and is one of the number reason of newborn deaths and the second prominent cause of deaths in children below five. The preterm babies have chances of an amplified risk of illness, disability and death. In the first weeks, the complications of premature birth may include: breathing problems, heart problems, brain problems, temperature control problems, gastrointestinal problems, blood problems, metabolism problems, immune system problems. Long-term complications includes cerebral palsy, impaired cognitive skills, vision problem, hearing problems, dental problems, behavioral and psychological problems, chronic health issues.

There are more than 70% of premature babies that are born between 34 and 36 weeks gestation a year. When a baby is born early, or born with birth defects, the Neonatal Intensive Care unit is its first home. The nurse’s in the NICU have the difficult job of preparing baby’s and parents for a health life together. A baby who has been put into the NICU will stay there until it is healthy enough to go home.

Premature birth is an important public health priority in terms of health of women and infants. Every year an estimated 15 million preterm babies are born and this number is still rising (WHO, 2015).In 2014, 1 of every 10 babies born in United States were premature and black infants were 50% more likely to be born premature than white, Hispanic and Asian/Pacific islander infants (CDC,2015). Almost 1 million children die each year due to complications of premature birth (WHO, 2015). Major survivors face lifelong disabilities like learning disabilities, hearing, visual, feeding, digestive, breathing and respiratory problems (CDC, 2015) and low birth weight (March of Dimes, 2014). A major challenge in decreasing the rate of preterm birth is

According to the World Health Organisation [WHO] (2014) pre-term babies are at increased risk of illness, disability and death. It also states that globally 15 million babies are born pre-term and the figures are rising. In England and Wales during 2012 7.3% of live births were pre-term under 37 weeks nearly 85% of all babies born prematurely will have a very low birth weight (Office for National Statistics, 2012). Pre-term birth is associated with respiratory complications and lung disease, long-tern neurological damage and problems with bowel function (Henderson & Macdonald, 2011). Neonatal services provide care to babies who are born prematurely or are ill and require specialist care. It is seen that sixty per cent of infant deaths occur in the neonatal period (DH,

Premature newborns have an increased risk of complications because their bodies still have underdeveloped parts such as the lungs, digestive system, immune system, and skin. Thus, promoting oxygenation, nutrition, and fluid balance, maintaining thermal regulation, resuscitation and transferring the newborn to NICU unit will help the child to get better (Ricci el., 2017, pg. 887).

For the past two decades, the limit of gestational viability has been 22-24 weeks (Bhat, Weinberger, & Hanna, 2012). Around 50 years ago, a premature infant born between 22-24 weeks was not considered viable and resuscitation was only considered at 27-28 weeks (Kushchel & Kent, 2011). Medicine and technology advances have improved neonatology drastically and infants are surviving at lower gestational ages. However, many studies show very low survival rates of 22-week neonates and some physician refuse to resuscitate and provide only comfort care. In the NICHD Neonatal Network between 2003 and 2007, infants that were incubated and resuscitated had a 6% survival rate at 22 weeks and a 55% survival rate at 24 weeks (Bhat et al, 2012). Another study followed a hospital for many years were they delivered 85 infants at 22-week

Now, medical advances make it possible for even the most severe premature babies to survive. Preterm babies as young as 22 to 23 weeks gestation can survive, but the costs associated with them is high (Kornhauser & Schneiderman, 2010). The higher cost is attributed to the extended hospital stay of micro preemies in Level 3 NICU (Bird, 2014). Level 3 NICU offers a wide range of neonatal services that include special imaging techniques, advanced ventilation

Prematurity is the primary cause of increasing infants’ serious illnesses and deaths in the United States (CDC, December 2014).Preterm infants are more likely to have developmental delays, impaired cognitive growth, and behavioral problems as compared to their normal counterparts. Also, the expenditure for the care of premature babies is constantly increasing due to their extended stay in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Previous studies have estimated that the Average daily expense of NICU stay is over $ 3000 for each preterm infant (Muraskas& Parsi 2008). The longer the stay, more will be the cost. The length of NICU stay depends upon the gestational age and complications associated with prematurity. The

How has technology improved the chances of healthier premature infants? The youngest known survivor or prematures was born at 21 months and 5 weeks in 1987. Technology has changed lives for premature babies, there is so many new ways to help premature babies. The nicu is where it all started and with the way technology is going, I don’t see it slowing down or stopping. Technology for premature infants has changed so much over the years this is gonna show how the new technology that has been improved the chances of healthier premature infants. Technology has improved baby care through the nicu/peapod, The respiratory assistance/feeding methods, and other equipment/ methods. Up to 450,000

Preterm delivery and or low weight infants home both negative impacts on the babies, their families, communities and the nation. Babies born at preterm or low weight have increased the risk of death within the first year of life. Other complications, includes respiratory distress due to their underdeveloped

Recently friends of the family had a newborn who was having difficulties with blood sugar levels. Therefore, the baby was placed in the NICU. While walking through the NICU to see the baby, I glanced into rooms with babies that might have easily weighed less than 3 lbs. I then thought briefly about the differences between premature and full term infants: neurologically and health.

The premature infants are vulnerable to the environment, because the earlier the birth, the more sensitive to diseases and complications. This is because the premature infant does not have the developmental capacity to endure environmental stresses the way a full term infant might (McGrath, et al., 2002). The difference is that preterm infants are born with underdeveloped organ systems. One system is the respiratory system, which does not full develop until the last weeks of pregnancy. This causes problems in respiration and breathing.

With the increasing number of women in the professional workforce who start their families in their late 30’s, hospitals are progressively encountering newborns with severe disabilities. Impaired babies have physical and cognitive disabilities, need frequent visits to the doctor and are more dependent on their parents. We’re faced with the complex dilemma of whether the lives neonates born with major complications should be prolonged by surgical intervention.

Preterm Birth is one of the most important and interesting topics to any prospective parent. One of the reasons is because it happens so often and unexpectedly. Preterm Birth has become a personal interest in research simply because it has made a tremendous impact in my life. Having a Preterm Birth has taught me lots of things, such as, to grow as a person and as a mother, to see things from a different perspective, to get up, continue with my life, and perhaps to learn how to say “good bye” to a little one without even saying “hello.” For all the reasons above, there are some questions I would like to address: Why do preterm births happen and how can it be prevented? What kind of help is offered to parents and family members who go through the process of having a preterm birth? How effective and relevant is that help?

Preterm infants are born during the late cannalicular to early saccular stages of lung development, which corresponds to the period when respiratory bronchioles capable for gas exchange and type II alveolar