Can Premature Babies Lead a Normal Life?

If you deliver before 37 weeks, the baby is considered premature. (ref 1) The cause is frequently indeterminable and possibly out of your control. Premature babies can face long-term health problems, but can navigate these issues with a strong support system.

  1. Initial Effects of Being Premature

    • Premature babies suffer through many complications at birth. They might have a low birth weight or breathing issues. These babies might have to deal with surgery or repeat blood draws. Each of these scenarios can cause a stress response in the baby, and cause the cortisol levels to spike. Cortisol is a stress hormone that, when released, can have a negative effect on the baby's well-being. Exposure to cortisol can lead to inflammation in the child's body and a prolonged presence of cortisol can be damaging to organ systems.

    Long-Term Effects

    • Some of the health issues for premature babies do not show up until later on in life. Parents need to keep an eye out for developmental delays, through regular check-ups with a pediatrician. Some of these children will require speech and/or physical therapy. Other issues premature babies may develop are breathing problems, difficulty with feeding and digestion, cerebral palsy and hearing issues.

    Role of Parents

    • Parents and caregivers play an enormous role in helping premature babies to become capable children. Their love and support can make a difference in the future of a baby born with health issues. Knowing this detail can help parents of premature babies to feel as though they have some control over the situation.

    Avoiding Risk Factors for Health

    • Despite the potential for health issues down the line, premature babies grow up to be resilient in dealing with their possible developmental delays. Having a good support system to teach them how to take care of themselves can help the children to overcome some of the obstacles that they may face as adults. Also, the likelihood of health problems typical for these people, such as heart disease, can be offset by avoiding certain risk factors. For example, eating healthy and not smoking are two behaviors that can make a big difference for someone who deals with health issues related to premature birth.

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