“A healthy child is a god’s gift to parents. However it is not uncommon to have a premature baby as well.”

Unlike the common belief, a premature baby care requires extra efforts and specialized medical support after discharging from hospital. In fact, most of the premature infants don’t need an extra care. And considered equivalent to the normal child, which is a “biggest relief” to most of the parents of premature babies.

However, the parents of a premature baby still needs to take the premature baby care more seriously, as there is a risk and chances of unnecessary complications.

A gestation period or a period of normal pregnancy lasts for 38 to 42 weeks, and if a baby born before 37 weeks then it is considered as a premature baby. The premature birth may be due to various factors. The premature infant needs special attention and care, which are provided by neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) where the premature babies start their life struggle.

Often sometimes the premature baby care relied upon various special equipment even after coming home, like an apnea monitor or an oxygen tank. In these cases, parents will be given special training to operate such systems until they get used to and gain confidence to operate such equipments effectively.

“On the flip side, a perfect feeding and sleeping process is vital in premature baby care.”

It is necessary for a premature baby that an 8 to 10 feedings in a day with the interval of max 4 hours, otherwise it may lead to dehydration. A well-fed premature baby by breast milk or by any formula can be visible through a good six to eight wet diapers.

A good sleep with short intervals is a good growth sign of a premature baby, if the baby sleeps for longer intervals – most of the times. Then it is vital that you must consult this to the doctor to find out whether your premature baby is growing properly or not.

Although a premature baby grows at a slower pace than a normal baby in the first two years, it will only pick up a faster rate, only after a lot of support and attention. To track the growth record of the premature baby, special growth charts are maintained by the doctors, which shows the baby’s growth. However, premature baby care is a good attempt to spend tremendous time with them to help them grow at a normal speed.

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