Taking a preemie home
The pediatrician will allow a baby to go home if he gains weight, and can eat and breathe on his own.
Pregnancy week takes place in February every year and the Addie visited St Mary’s neo-natal intensive care unit (NICU) to find out about the unit.
Babies who are kept for a while in the NICU need special care.
Megan Strauss, unit manager of St Mary’s says babies who are stressed at birth, do not breathe or are very small go directly to the NICU after birth.
This includes children with heart defects or a cleft lip.
She says the pediatrician will allow a baby to go home if he gains weight, and can eat and breathe on his own.
Kobie Amos, a sister in the NICU says each baby being discharged has his own needs.
They always advise parents on the correct amount of food according to the weight of the child, and how to make a bottle.
The personnel also stress the importance of hygiene by the proper washing of hands before handling the child.
Kobie says the NICU staff always warn parents to keep their premature baby healty.
She advises that parents and siblings have to get their flu injections because flu can make premature babies very sick and they sometimes get sicker than other babies.
Parents should also avoid crowds or parties at home, as well as shopping malls, and school and daycare facilities.
She also warns not to smoke close to the premature baby as the exposure to tobacco smoke puts a baby at risk and may cause respiratory problems.
