Babies born before 37 weeks of gestation are called preterm babies. Most of these babies will need to be cared for in a special set-up known as a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit ( NICU ). Here they will be cared for and monitored closely by health professionals who are trained and equipped to do this.

Premature births occur in around 1 in 10 cases worldwide. They occur more often in elderly mothers and mothers with medical problems like hypertension and diabetes. Doctors say that higher-risk pregnancies and multiple gestations are also increasingly frequent as a consequence of assisted reproductive technologies like IVF. 

Many preterm newborns struggle to control their body temperature at birth due to their lack of body fat. These infants need an incubator or other methods to keep them warm, and skin-to-skin contact with the primary caregiver, also known as kangaroo care, is one way to do that. According to recent studies, kangaroo care should begin as soon as possible after birth to enhance feeding and prevent infections and hypothermia in the preemie baby.   

What is Premature Birth?

A baby born too early, at least three weeks ahead of its due date, is referred to as a premature or preemie baby, but it could be born much earlier in certain cases. Generally, about 40 weeks pass during a full-term pregnancy. A newborn infant may be seriously at risk for health problems if they are born too soon, and this happens due to the fact that throughout the last few weeks of pregnancy, several organs, including the liver, lungs, and brain, continue to grow and develop in the baby. Premature babies may struggle to feed or remain warm, they may also be at risk for developmental impairments in later life.

A preterm infant, thankfully, can overcome these early challenges and become a healthy child and then an adult thanks to advancements in medical technology. The cause of premature birth is frequently not determined, however, it is quite frequently due to maternal causes. These include elevated blood pressure or raised blood sugars, cardiac causes, or an infection of the urinary tract vagina or amniotic membranes. 

Babies are also delivered early when the placenta, which is the source of oxygen and nutrition to the baby separates from the womb, a condition known as placental abruption or if there is more than one baby eg twins or triplets, or the mother's womb is not formed normally of the mother has been consuming non-prescription medications, drugs, or excessive amounts of alcohol during pregnancy or is malnourished or unwell because of other illnesses

What are the Health Complications of a Preemie Baby?

A baby born too soon doesn't have enough time to mature, which implies that some bodily systems and organs might not be prepared to sustain the baby once they are born. Serious health issues in the early neonatal period may result from this. Before they can be discharged from the hospital, preterm infants frequently require specialized care in a NICU where a neonatologist assesses the preterm infant to see what kind of treatment they might require. 

The following are a few of the most prevalent illnesses that preterm newborns face:

Illness	Description
Anemia	Anaemia decreases in the Haemoglobin because of decreased production of RBCs and increased destruction
Prematurity Apnea	Apnoea of Prematurity pauses in breathing secondary to immaturity of the respiratory centre of the brain
Respiratory Distress Syndrome	Respiratory Distress Syndrome A condition where the baby has breathing difficulty and needs breathing support for some time
Jaundice	Jaundice present in the first few days of life is caused mainly by immaturity of the liver, but occasionally because of blood group incompatibilities
Feeding Issues	Feeding issues because the gut is immature
Low Blood Sugars	Hypoglycemia is caused by limited glycogen stores or difficulty regulating blood glucose levels in preterm infants.
Low Blood Calcium	Hypocalcemia due to underdeveloped parathyroid gland function or calcium regulation.

Additionally, premature newborns are more likely to experience developmental difficulties as they grow up, and are also at risk of developing cerebral palsy, issues with eyesight and hearing, learning impairments, inadequate growth, and communication or social development issues. 

What is Skin-to-Skin Contact Care?

Holding your infant to your chest for skin-to-skin contact with a newborn is known as kangaroo care. The infant merely wears a diaper to allow skin-to-skin contact when they rest against your naked chest. This kind of contact is a unique care that offers health advantages, especially for preterm or low birth weight newborns. 

Kangaroo care can be performed at home or in a hospital setting, including the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), and your circumstances and the medical requirements of your child will determine how long you hold them in each session. The care team for your infant will provide detailed instructions on when to start kangaroo care and how long each session should last, and they will also determine if kangaroo care is safe and feasible for infants who are hooked up to IVs or other medical devices. 

Kangaroo care is also known as "kangaroo mother care" since mothers are often the primary carer for a baby, however, kangaroo care can also be practised by other caregivers such as fathers, other family members, and qualified healthcare specialists to offer the baby skin to skin contact newborn benefits. 

Benefits of Skin to Skin Care 

Kangaroo care or skin-to-skin for newborns can be beneficial in multiple ways.

• Maintain a steady heart rate for your infant, and also help them breathe more regularly by improving their breathing rhythm. 

• Encourage restful sleep, which includes longer cycles and more peaceful sleep. 

• Reduce your baby's chance of severe infections or hypothermia.

• Promote the growth of the infant and alleviate any discomfort your infant may have during specific treatments, such as a heel prick test.  

How to Practice Skin-to-Skin Care? 

In the hospital, the specialist team will assist you in beginning kangaroo care, and even though the time limit of each session might vary, experts often recommend longer sessions for greater effects. One research, for instance, demonstrates that when done at least seven days in a row, a two-hour session is more advantageous than a one-hour session.  

• During the session, your infant should be on your naked chest, and they should be upright and lean their head against your chest on one side. Usually, your infant will simply wear socks and a diaper during the session. 

• Cover your infant's back with a blanket after you're both in skin-to-skin contact and hold your infant tight against your chest to keep them cosy and warm.  

• Try to relax while holding your baby during your session, and do not forget to breathe properly. Let your infant cuddle up and go to sleep, and refrain from waking the baby up by interacting with them.

Final Remarks 

A baby born early may have major health issues because important organs may not fully develop in the newborn because of the early birth. Nonetheless, with proper care, the baby can become healthy and grow up at a normal rate without health issues. One way to provide care for the infant is to offer skin-to-skin contact, also known as kangaroo care, and its health benefits have been observed in research studies. You can start this method of care as soon as the healthcare provider allows it and continue until you receive further instructions from the healthcare team. 

To avoid premature birth or give your baby proper care after birth, contact the expert Medanta! 

 Reference

1. World Health Organization: WHO. (2022, November 15). WHO advises immediate skin-to-skin care for survival of small and preterm babies. WHO. 

   https://www.who.int/news/item/15-11-2022-who-advises-immediate-skin-to-skin-care-for-survival-of-small-and-preterm-babies