A normal pregnancy results in delivery between 38 weeks and 40 weeks. But sometimes the birth occurs before 37 weeks. Special precautions are taken and special care is applied to prevent a life-threatening risk for premature babies both during and after birth.
A baby born at or before 37 weeks is not at a normal weight. The further away the birth is from the due date, the more life-threatening problems can occur. In addition, a premature baby has difficulty maintaining its own body temperature. If the baby's body temperature drops, it may be lost. One of the most important functions of incubators is to keep the baby's temperature at a constant level. Thanks to the incubator, the baby has the opportunity to spend his calories on other vital functions rather than warming himself. How long a premature baby will stay in the incubator is a decision made by the doctor according to his health status. These may be times expressed in weeks. Temperature control is much more important in babies born at 34 weeks. 35 and 36 weeks old may not encounter this problem.
The baby in the incubator has only a diaper on it. In this way, the baby can be observed better. In addition, heart rhythm, oxygen level and respiratory devices are constantly monitored. In this observation, electrodes are constantly attached to the baby's chest, arms, legs. The weight of the premature baby in relation to how early the birth is 2500 g. below. He/she is shorter than normal. Babies born very prematurely have various problems, especially respiratory problems. Feeding is done by special methods. The baby cannot be fed by the sucking method at first.
Many premature babies quickly become what they should have been born with, with incubator support. If there is no other health problem afterward, they are left like other babies.