Tiny miracles: Premature babies in the spotlight in November
In South Africa, 15% of all births - or one in seven babies - are born preterm
PREMATURE birth is the leading cause of death worldwide in children under the age of five.
Babies born too early are more susceptible to long-term health problems that affect the brain, lungs, hearing or vision.
Globally around 15 million babies (12% of all births) are born pre-term and one million die due to complications and a lack of proper healthcare.
In South Africa, neonatal facilities at hospitals are overcrowded, and this may lead to an increased risk of infection and further complications for these babies.
By donating funds to neonatal facilities and programmes, babies born as early as 26 weeks will have a fighting chance of survival.
World Prematurity Day: Friday, 17 November
These donations will be put towards improving the facilities so that there is more space for patients, providing up to date medical treatment and the opportunity to facilitate kangaroo care.
Registered nurse and experienced midwife Lynne Bluff says moms should be aware of information related to medical conditions which could result in preterm labour and educate themselves on the signs of early labour.
‘It is crucial to consult with a midwife or obstetrician as in many instances pre-term labour can be halted.
‘It is important to realise that in the majority of premature births, there is nothing a mom could have done to prevent it from occurring,’ she said.
Expectant moms should take care of themselves during pregnancy by:
• Having regular, sound antenatal care at the recommended stages of gestation
• Managing weight gain: The average weight gain over the course of a pregnancy is approximately 12kg
• Infected gums produce prostaglandins, the same hormones that initiate labour. Expectant mums should visit a dentist at least once during pregnancy, and brush teeth at least twice a day and floss.
ALSO READ: Wear purple for preemies today
Rallying
Members of the public are urged to support Wear Purple for Preemies by buying a sticker for R10 and wearing purple on World Prematurity Day.
In addition, why not paint your social media page purple and share with friends and family to spread the word using #HuggiesWorldPreemieDay.
This year Huggies is driving awareness and support around the Wear Purple for Preemies Initiative which has been established by the Newborns Groote Schuur Trust.
Huggies encourages all South Africans to wear purple and to purchase the official R10 World Prematurity Day sticker at Toys R Us.
Funds raised through this initiative aim to improve healthcare to premature babies around the country.
Facts about preemie babies
• One of the most common problems in premature babies is breathing difficulties. Apnoea may occur, when there is a brief cessation of breathing, and it is sometimes accompanied by a slowed-down heart rate (bradycardia).
• Many premature babies have grown to live a full and healthy life. Famous figures Charles Darwin, Albert Einstein, Pablo Picasso, Stevie Wonder and Sir Winston Churchill were all born prematurely.
• Premature babies have two birthdays – The day they are born is the official date of birth, but the original due date is considered an important date, too.
• Skin-to-skin contact is beneficial for your baby as it has been proved to stabilises your baby’s heart rate and oxygenation, and it improves sleep.
• Preemies are weighed in grams rather than kilograms. Although premature babies are so small that they are weighed in grams, it’s important to note that it is only temporary.
• Your prem baby’s doctor is called a neonatologist. Neonatologists are doctors who specialise in the care of sick full-term and preterm infants.
• Breast milk has several benefits for early babies.The fat in human milk helps to enhance the development of your baby’s brain and neurologic tissues.
• Changing from an incubator to a regular crib is a giant step for a preterm baby. This means that your little one can regulate their own body temperature.
• Premature babies are at higher risk of getting anaemia. This is when a baby doesn’t have enough healthy red blood cells to carry oxygen to the rest of the body.
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