Preterm Babies

Most pregnancies last 40 weeks. A baby born before the 37th week is known as a premature or pre-term baby. Medical advances have meant that more than 9 out of 10 premature babies survive, and most go on to develop normally. Very premature babies are at a higher risk of developmental problems. It is possible for babies born at 23 to 24 weeks to survive, but it is risky. Most babies born before 32 weeks, and those weighing 2.5 kg or less, may need help breathing and may be cared for in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) until they have developed enough to survive on their own. Babies born between 32 and 37 weeks may need care nursery. At APG Hospital we have the facility of nursery and NICU to take care of such cases.

Causes and Management

Some of the reasons babies are born prematurely include:

Twin Pregnancy

Mother has problem with Uterus or Cervix

Medical Condition which requires preterm delivery

History of preterm birth in earlier pregnancies

Preterm delivery should ideally take place in a hospital which has an NICU. However if a preterm baby is born in a hospital which does not have the facility of NICU then we make arrangements for shifting the baby to our NICU. Such babies are shifting in an ambulance with Neonatal ventilator manned by trained neonatologists and NICU paramedical staff. The NICU should have the facility of Neonatal Ventilator and Surfactant Therapy to manage very sick preterm babies.

Best Doctors and Cost

For preterm babies, the stay in NICU is mostly a long affair of 1-3 months. Babies are normally shifted out of the NICU once they achieve body weight of 2 kg and can breathe comfortably. The cost of NICU averages around Rs. 15-20 thousand for a stay of 1 month which translates into 4-5 Lacs. Babies who have to stay for a longer period will cost 8-10 lac rupees. Some parents who could not afford this high cost of NICU can consider taking the preterm baby to a government hospital having the facility of NICU. Regular ultrasound scans during the pregnancy play an important role in preventing preterm births. The money spent on the consultation of an experienced gynecologist and the tests done during the pregnancy is nothing in comparison to the money spent on NICU. Babies who have spend long time in NICU at the time of birth tend to be sicker than their counterparts till the age of 10-12 years.

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