Ask The Healthcare Professional
Here are some general premature birth questions answered by today's healthcare professionals. Please remember to always contact and speak with your preemie's pediatrician first and foremost.
In general, is premature birth an issue the general public is well-informed on?
"In general, I don’t think a lot of people know much about prematurity unless it affects them personally, to their own family or to their close friends. I didn’t even know much about preemies until I started working as an OT with kids who were ex-preemies, and were still struggling with developmental delays. Overall, I would love to see more public knowledge and awareness."
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NICU Occupational Therapist
Is it true that mostly teen moms give birth to premature babies?
"While we do have a good number of teen moms with premature babies in the NICU, I wouldn’t say that that is the majority. I think we might tend to make that association because sometimes teen moms don’t get much prenatal care, which could lead to premature labor and birth. But overall, anyone could have a premature baby (even a “normal healthy woman” with low risk factors) and we see all sorts of moms in the NICU. "
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NICU Occupational Therapist
What do you think about A Preemium For Preemies' Care Kits?
"I think the care kit looks great! I think the coloring book is a great idea because it could even be something that the siblings could color, and then they could post one of the pages at the baby’s bedside in the hospital, so it helps the sibling to feel more connected. I think one of the hardest seasons for these families is when the baby is still in the hospital (which could last as long as 4-5 months), but there is an older sibling at home, and the parents feel torn between the two - wanting to spend as much time in the hospital with the newborn baby, but also maintain some sense of normalcy for the older sibling. It’s especially hard when one parent is working because they are trying to save up their maternity/paternity leave time for when the baby comes home. So anything to help bring some care and comfort to these families during this traumatic hospitalization period is super helpful. Another suggestion is that you could include lactation cookies or lactation teas for the moms (producing enough milk for breastfeeding while they are away from their babies for prolonged periods of time can be a huge challenge)."
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NICU Occupational Therapist
Is it possible to prevent premature birth?
Yes and no. In some cases, there really is nothing the mother could’ve done differently. For example, there is a condition called “incomplete cervix” where the cervix is not able to keep the baby in as the baby grows. There’s a procedure that can be done to help but premature birth is almost inevitable. On the other hand, there are certain risk factors like maternal tobacco use or poor prenatal care that increase the likelihood of premature birth. Also of course, if a pregnancy is considered “high risk” for whatever reason (twins, triplets, etc. being one example), careful monitoring and more frequent doctor’s appointments throughout the pregnancy are helpful so that the OB can try to keep the baby in as long as possible.
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NICU Occupational Therapist
How long do preemies usually stay in the hospital NICU before they are allowed to go home with their families?
It depends on so many things. As a general rule of thumb, the earlier they are born, the longer their NICU stay. A baby born at 24 weeks is more likely to stay in the NICU maybe even several weeks past their due date (40 weeks), whereas a baby born at 34 weeks may go home around 37 or 38 weeks. It depends on their medical condition and what complications they may have. Generally we tell parents to not expect the baby to come home until at least their due date.
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NICU Occupational Therapist
What type of developmental delays do you notice most with the ex-preemies you work with?
Preemies born extremely prematurely can end up having physical impairments such as cerebral palsy. It’s also not uncommon for them to have vision issues - there is a condition called Retinopathy of Prematurity that affects babies born very prematurely. On the more mild side, ex-preemies can hit all their milestones in early childhood, but end up having challenges such as learning disabilities once they reach elementary or middle school. Sensory processing delays can also be common since the first few months of their lives were filled with such negative sensory experiences. In the end, though, every baby is different and the care that they get in the NICU, the type of therapy and early intervention they get, and the commitment/involvement of the parents can make a HUGE difference in their long term development.
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NICU Occupational Therapist
How long do developmental delays last in ex-preemies?
Again, every preemie is different. There are so many other factors other than their prematurity that could affect how they develop later down the road. Delays can last anywhere from months, to a few years, to an entire lifetime. Sorry there is no straight answer for this question!
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NICU Occupational Therapist
Is it possible for preemies to be born with developmental advancements?
Nothing is impossible! With really great neuroprotective care in the NICU, dedicated therapy, etc, it’s not impossible :)
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NICU Occupational Therapist
What NICU advancements have recently developed to further help preemies in the hospital?
So many, from the type of ventilation equipment to the way nurses do routine diaper changes, NICUs are always learning how to better help preemies. At Loma Linda, one thing they have implemented in the last few years is to have a dedicated “Tiny Baby Unit” (TBU), which is a separate area in the NICU specifically for babies born earlier than 28 weeks. https://news.llu.edu/patient-care/saving-tiny-lives has info on this and how the type of care is different for these extra little ones. We’ve found that this has made a huge difference for these babies and their long term development.
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NICU Occupational Therapist
Is there any advice you could give to parents waiting to take their precious preemie home?
I know it’s so hard and this is not the experience that you expected, but there are ways to bond with your baby. Hold skin to skin often, read to the baby, give the baby your breastmilk, this is not your fault and you are still an amazing parent, and get as much rest as you can while you are at home waiting for baby!
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NICU Occupational Therapist
How effective/helpful are handmade preemie hats?
I think handmade preemie hats are great! It helps keep the babies warm and brings a personal homemade touch to the NICU, when everything else feels so medical, sterile and clinical. I can only imagine how meaningful it is for parents to receive something handmade for their baby. :)
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NICU Occupational Therapist
Have you heard of preemie crochet octopi? What do you think about them?
Yes! I love them. It’s the perfect size, shape and texture that gives preemies something to hold onto, as if they were still in the comfort of their mom’s womb, holding onto the umbilical cord. I think it’s a great way to bring them familiarity and comfort while they are out here in a big and scary world.
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NICU Occupational Therapist