Preterm And Low Birth Weight Flashcards
What are corticosteroids?
Steroids GIVEN to the Mother to help the
development of the fetus lungs @34 wks
What is magnesium sulphate used for
Given to mum to help the brain development of the fetus, it prevents cerabal palsy. Given @LESS than 30wks
What to do in antenatal care ?
- Transfer for appropriate care if safe
- Corticosteroids given if LESS than 34 wks
- Give Magnesium sulphate of less than 30wks
- Effective communication with parents and appropriate healthcare professionals
- Tour of NEONATAL INTENSIVE CARE UNIT
What can cause Premature delivery?
- Smoking
- Drinking alcohol
- Stress
- Substance abuse
- low or high maternal age
- infection
- previous premature birth
- high blood pressure
- multiple birth
- maternal illness/injury
- 25% no identified cause
What is considered as preterm?
<37/40wks
What is considered as very Preterm?
29-34/40 wks
What is considered as moderate prematurity?
35-37/40wks
What is considered as extremely preterm?
24-28/40wks
What can premature babies suffer from?
- poor breathing and circulation
- poor nutrition
- Imbalanced blood sugars
- infection
- Jaundice
- intolerance of handling
- skin integrity
- ventricular haemorrhage
- retinopathy
What are possible causes for low birth weight?
- Placental Failure
- congenital infection
- chromosome abnormality
- Substance abuse
- Malnourished mother
- Asymmetric IUGR
What can be considered as Low Birth Weight?
<2500g
What is considered as very Low Birth Weight?
<1500g
What is considered as extremely Low Birth Weight?
<1000g
Low Birth Weight babies…
- May be born term/Preterm
- weight is below 10th percentile for gestation
- Have difficulty with Tempreture control
- Low blood sugars
- Feeding
- polychthima
- organ failure
When do babies suffer from respiratory distress syndrome?
- predominately occurs in premature babies
- babies delivered by LSCS
- Monozytogtic TWINS
- lack of surfactant
