Health risks of extremely premature babies

The article was professionally consulted with Specialist Doctor I Bui Thi Ha - Pediatrician - Neonatologist - Department of Pediatrics - Neonatology - Vinmec Ha Long International General Hospital.

Extremely premature babies are those born before the 28th week of pregnancy. Babies born extremely prematurely, although they can survive, face many health risks. Therefore, when seeing any signs of premature birth, pregnant women need to pay close attention because premature babies need special care.

Currently, babies born between 24 and 25 weeks are also capable of surviving, but they need special care with a regimen for extremely premature babies, even after they have been discharged from the hospital.
For babies born 8 weeks before the due date, they still have the same ability to survive and develop normally as babies born at full term. Extremely premature babies face a very high risk of death and birth defects if care and nutrition are not guaranteed.

Extremely premature babies can have serious physical and mental health problems.
Respiratory problems: Babies born extremely prematurely have not yet fully developed their main respiratory tract, so many babies are prone to breathing difficulties. This condition can lead to chronic respiratory disorders. Blood pressure problems: Because the blood vessels of extremely premature babies are not strong enough to maintain normal blood flow, they can develop low blood pressure. Thus, it is possible to predispose the child to various heart defects. Blood disorders: Extremely premature babies may face common blood-related problems such as anemia and jaundice because their blood cells are still weak and not fully developed. enough. Poor immunity: The immune system in extremely premature babies has not been fully developed, so the immune system of the baby is still very weak, making extremely premature babies more susceptible to many diseases.

Metabolic abnormalities: The metabolic rate in extremely premature babies is very slow, making the normal functioning of the baby's organs hindered and the production of abnormal hormones. Vision and hearing problems: Because the organs of hearing and vision in extremely premature babies are still immature, they are at high risk for vision and hearing disorders. It is necessary to check the baby in the first few days to be able to intervene in time. Brain Hemorrhage: Many babies born before 28 weeks are at risk of having a brain hemorrhage, which usually occurs within the first few days after birth. However, the condition is treatable. In case the baby has too much bleeding, the baby will have permanent brain damage, affecting the child's brain development in the future. Growth retardation: Babies born extremely prematurely are often slower to develop. However, not all babies born extremely prematurely become children with developmental delays because now, through monitoring, many babies born extremely premature can catch up with the development of other full-term babies. Hypothermia: Because very premature babies all lack fat, their bodies cannot regulate their own body temperature, causing hypothermia. Babies born extremely prematurely will find it difficult to gain weight and grow because their energy is spent keeping warm. This is why very premature babies are often kept in an incubator. Necrotizing enterocolitis : This is a potentially dangerous condition and usually occurs when the baby is breastfed, usually occurs in the 2-3 weeks after birth, mainly in babies who are fed artificial milk. Premature babies are less likely to get this disease if they are breastfed. Cerebral palsy: This is a serious neurological disorder. It affects the muscles and impairs normal movement. Due to abnormal blood circulation and underdeveloped nervous system, babies born extremely prematurely are prone to this disorder. Behavioral disorders: Due to the underdeveloped nervous system, many premature babies suffer from mental behavioral disorders in childhood. Infection: Because the immune system of premature babies is extremely weak, they are prone to pneumonia, sepsis and meningitis. Low survival rate: About 80% of babies born extremely prematurely are likely to survive, the rest will easily die from infections.

During pregnancy, pregnant women need to be carefully taken care of. Balanced diet, reasonable, healthy lifestyle, avoid stress, anxiety. It is necessary to have regular antenatal check-ups as prescribed by the doctor to closely monitor the mental and physical health of the pregnant woman. Infections or other illnesses can be controlled with regular checkups. Clean oral hygiene. In fact, if pregnant women have oral diseases, they are very likely to have premature birth, so mothers should remember to clean their teeth and regularly go for regular dental check-ups. Eat a healthy diet with lots of fruits and vegetables. Drink lots of water and need to control your weight. Regular exercise every day, if you practice yoga can also help reduce the risk of preterm birth. Exercise helps you to clear your mind and reduce stress. Vinmec Times City International Hospital has successfully performed many life-saving cases for premature babies. Especially, there were premature births with high mortality rate, but after being treated at Vinmec, the babies were discharged without any risk of long-term complications.
Vinmec Times City International General Hospital is the only hospital in the North that can save 24 weeks premature babies. With modern equipment such as regular ventilators, high-frequency ventilators, CPAP ventilators, incubators, good infection control ability, ensuring a safe environment for children. Dr. Tran Lien Anh and a team of doctors and nurses at the Neonatal Department at Vinmec have been providing many opportunities for premature babies to be saved and live healthy lives.