Prayer For A Premature Baby

Prayers for premature baby girl

A survivor of the Boston Marathon bombing who had her leg amputated and was told she could not have more children has revealed she has given birth to a premature baby girl after a very high-risk pregnancy.

Rebekah Gregory, 28, was standing just feet away from the home-made bomb that exploded near the finish line of the marathon in 2013.

After multiple surgeries, her leg was amputated and she has since become a motivational speaker.

Now, she is asking for prayers as her premature daughter fights for survival in intensive care.

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Rebekah Gregory, who had her leg amputated after the Boston Marathon bombing and was told she could not have more children, has revealed she has given birth to a premature baby girl

Gregory and her husband Chris Varney welcomed baby Ryleigh Michelle on May 2 – but she came ‘way too early.’

Doctors had told Gregory that pregnancy was something she ‘would never be able to think about again,’ she wrote on her page.

So when she did become pregnant, the couple, who live in Houston, kept the news of their impending arrival secret, only revealing it to friends and family in April.

‘We knew right away it was extremely high risk and decided that we both wanted to keep this part of our lives private as a result,’ she wrote.

But then on April 29, Gregory was taken to hospital after suffering back pain which ended up being pre-term labor.

‘ not only almost lost our baby, but came close to losing my own life as well,’ Gregory wrote.

She was soon discharged but her newborn has a ‘much long road ahead’ – so she has once again turned to her supporters for their prayers.

On Mother’s Day, Gregory shared a picture of her holding baby Ryleigh for the first time. ‘This picture represents my entire world and my heart is so full,’ she wrote

‘ privacy goes out the window for me and I am once again forced to just be human and ask for help.

‘No parent wants to see their child on a ventilator struggling for each day of life.

‘Please covet us in your prayers as we go down this road so that we will have the strength to face what may lay ahead.’

Since then, Ryleigh has come off the ventilator but remains on a CPAP, a continuous airway pressure machine, until her lungs develop.

And on Sunday, Gregory shared a picture of her holding Ryleigh for the first time.

‘I couldn’t ask for a better Mother’s Day present than to hold my baby girl for the first time today,’ she wrote. ‘This picture represents my entire world and my heart is so full.’

She added: ‘Best five minutes EVER. One day soon I’ll hold you tight and never let you go, my Ryleigh girl.’

Gregory, left, before running in Boston last year, and right, outside the courthouse for Boston bomber Dzhokar Tsarnaev’s sentencing in June last year

She also has an eight-year-old son called Noah.

On Mother’s Day, Gregory told Noah that being his and Ryleigh’s mom was the ‘best job in the whole world.’

He replied: ‘No, it’s not. It’s being a big brother.’

Meanwhile, Gregory’s mother Tina announced the birth on her daughter’s page, calling Ryleigh a ‘fighter’.

‘Someone said ‘Boston Strong’ by default. I would agree,’ she wrote. ‘While we were in Boston, we saw God at work in Rebekah’s life.

‘We were humbled by the miracles we witnessed as we requested the prayers of His people.

‘We come to you again asking for your prayers, knowing that God is faithful.’

Since her ordeal in 2013, Gregory said she found ‘purpose in life’ by being a motivational speaker – and she returned to Boston last year to complete the last three miles of the marathon on her prosthetic leg.

Last year, she returned to Boston to run the last three miles of the Boston Marathon on her prosthetic leg

Earlier this year, Gregory married Varney, her college sweetheart, in an intimate ceremony in Jamaica.

She split from her first husband, Pete DiMartino, who also survived the Boston bombing, after just ten months of marriage amid allegations that he cheated on her.

Gregory and DiMartino had dated for a year before the couple went to watch his mother run the marathon together.

Both were injured in the blast. Gregory suffered injuries to her left leg, which was amputated after 27 surgeries.

DiMartino suffered a shattered ankle, ruptured his eardrum and lost his right Achilles tendon in the explosion.

Their shared story of recovery captured hearts across the country and they were soon engaged.

Gregory split from her first husband, Pete DiMartino (pictured together), who also survived the Boston bombing, after just ten months

Gregory married college sweetheart Chris Varney in an intimate ceremony in Jamaica (pictured) last year

But in February last year, shortly after Gregory’s leg was amputated and she cheerfully named her prosthetic leg ‘Felicia’, the marriage fell apart.

A chance encounter with Varney in August led to the pair falling in love again – a decade after they first met.

‘When I was 18 years old I met a boy in college who I fell head over heels for right away,’ she wrote on .

‘It wasn’t long before craziness ensued and I found myself transferring back home when my sister became very ill.

‘That was the last day I ever saw him until this past August, when he happened to come to Houston on a business trip, and I happened to be totally free for dinner.

‘I was pleasantly surprised to find that same boy turned into an amazing man.

‘And even at a time, when I thought for sure I would live alone, and was sick of having my heart ripped open, the moment I saw him I was 18 again, and nothing else mattered.’

www.dailymail.co.uk

NBA star J.R. Smith, 31, and his wife Jewel Harris welcomed their 3rd daughter 5 months prematurely.

The couple shared the sad news in a video uploaded to Uninterrupted.com on Saturday. “We’ve got very important news,” Smith said at the beginning of the video.

Jewel, who married the Cleveland Cavaliers star in August, said, “Hi, everybody. We decided to share with the world what’s been going on with our family the past five days. We know a lot of you guys congratulated us on the expectancy of our little baby girl, but we had her five months early. She’s five days old today and her name is Dakota and she weighs one pound.”

She continued, “We know we’re not the only family going through this, who has been through this, and who will ever go through it. That’s why we decided to share what we’re going through with you guys. Please keep us in your prayers and we’ll do the same for everyone else.”

Jewel and J.R. have 7-year-old daughters, Demi Smith and Peyton Rose Smith.

Infants who are born prematurely are usually diagnosed with respiratory distress syndrome because they lack a substance in the lungs called surfactant.

Surfactant is a milky liquid produced by the lungs that keeps the airway open and prevents the tiny air sacs (alveoli) inside the lungs from collapsing.

Doctors can introduce artificial surfactant into the lungs through a tiny breathing tube. The chances of survival are slim for babies born in the 2nd trimester.

Thanks to loyal reader Lovezoe for the tip.

sandrarose.com

A premature baby is born more susceptible to illness due to their weakened immune system and inability to fully develop in some areas. To help quick the healing process, recite any of these great prayers for premature babies.

Prayer #1

God bless the little child behind the plastic wall For all he knows is the ringing of the bells and the blurred images around him. He has been taken from my womb without warning and I long to hold him

in my arms.

Lord, I ask in your name that my child be healed. I am willing to accept your decision no matter what it will be. I am willing to take on the responsibilities for caring for this child. I am willing to give this

child love and understanding no matter the cost.

Please Lord help me to accept reality and what has happened without explanation or warning. Help me face the fact that this is not my fault and that

I was given a special task to complete here on Earth.

God give my child the strength to make it through another second, minute, hour and day as each moment is
a blessing and a triumph from heaven.

God, may you give the strength and compassion to the caregivers and nurses that take care of my child May you keep my child protected and free from all injury

and pain.

Please take away the guilt and burden from my heart dear Lord. It is heavy and I feel it is all my fault. Take it away dear Lord. Sweet Jesus allow me the stregnth and understanding I need to communicate with the Doctors

and Nurses.

As you see dear Lord, I am at your mercy for the life of my child. Please leave him here on Earth and know that I will provide all the love and understanding that this child needs. I accept the challenge and will be

your humble servant dear Lord.

Prayer #2

Dear God,

I have a request to make. Just a moment of your time it will take. You see, my parents, are heartbroken and sad,

and they have prayed to you with all they had.

Could you just hug them and remind them you care, as they are wishing I was at home, not here. This time is confusing, un how they pictured it would be,

But I want them to know that you take care of me.

Although I am sleeping in this little bed, and I am often too tired to raise my little head, please remind them that I know they did their very best.

And that at night I am protected as I sleep upon your chest.

They think I am so lonely when they are away,
and if I could tell them, I would say

“I know this is hard, and God understands, But just know He has never let go of my hand. He is always with me, He is with you,

and all this has a purpose too.”

And God, while I am in this temporary N.I.C.U. home,
I just want them to know I have never been alone.

Prayer #3

Dear God, as you look down upon us, We know that you might have to squint. We’re located here in the NICU

It’s the nursery that we rent.

There are many alarms and sirens, Connected to condos and flats. The nurses tape our booties on,

And dress us in funny hats.

We have a lot in common; All of us were in a hurry. For many different reasons,

Our storks came a little early.

Some of us don’t know why, We bursted out from our bubbles. We entered into this world,

Never meaning to cause any troubles.

Mommy and Daddy are worried sick About the odds that we must beat. Please God, help them to realize,
That seeing us grow is a treat.

Breath by breath, we’ll learn to breathe. Ounce by ounce we’ll tip the scale. We’re a boat in the ocean,

That knows not sink- only sail.

For we are living miracles, Mommy and Daddy must simply believe, That you have angels watching over us;

From the time we arrive, till the time we leave.

Prayer #4

Our gracious heavenly father, thank you for this precious child that you have given this family. Lord, we know from your Word that you never leave us or forsake us. We call upon your name for comfort in our hour of need for you are our strength, our only refuge, and we seek peace in this time of uncertainty.

Our hearts are overwhelmed with fear and doubt. You, Lord, are the Great Healer. We ask that you pour out your great healing power on this precious little lamb of yours. Bless and keep this little one surrounded with your abundant love and mercy. This is the prayer of our hearts.

We ask these things in the precious

name of your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Prayer #5

Almighty God, bless this dear child, born before their time, yet made in your image and perfect in your sight and Father, we ask that if it be Thy will, that this beautiful infant grow strongers and healthier with each passing day. Give us, O Lord, the strength to entrust to your care, this precious little one so very much beloved, and grant us the grace to pray as Jesus taught us,

that ‘Thy will be done.’

Check out the following video for a powerful prayer on healing. Reciting these words will help ease the pain and seek a blessing from God.

connectusfund.org

Источник: //4prayertoday.com/prayers-for-premature-baby-girl/

Premature Babies

Prayer For A Premature Baby

A premature baby is a baby that’s born before the end of the gestational period, somewhere between the 22nd and the 37th week.

A premature baby weighs less than 2500 g and his/her height is less than 45 cm. Premature babies suffer from thermoregulation disorder and inspiratory apnea (no breathing for some time).

They have weak immune system and obvious clinical and anthropometric signs.

Classification of Premature Babies

The classification is the weight of a baby (the term of pregnancy when he/she was born is not that important):

The 1st group – premature babies that weigh 2001-2500 g. (approximately the 35-37th week);
The 2nd group – premature babies that weigh 1501-2000 g. (approximately the 32-34th week);
The 3rd group – premature babies that weigh 1100-1500 g. (approximately the 29-31st week);
The 4th group – premature babies that weigh less than 1000 g. The gestational term is less than 29 weeks. (Babies that refer to this group are considered to be extremely premature).

The Reasons for Why Babies are Born Earlier than Necessary

There are different reasons for advanced labour. In overall, there exist 3 groups of these reasons (factors).

Factors on the part of a mother:

chronic diseases (pathologies of the cardio-vascular system, diseases of the endocrine system, pathologies of the kidneys);
acute infections that occur during the period of pregnancy;
gynecological diseases;
serious negative factors mentioned in the obstetric history (cases of caesarean section and abortion);
intrauterine device;
traumas;
cervical insufficiency;
age (a woman is under 17 or over 30);
Rh-incompatible pregnancy;
bad health habits;
placenta pathologies (presentation, abruption of placenta);
harmful work environment;
complications that occur during pregnancy (gestosis).

Factors on the part of a father:

a father is over 50;
chronic diseases.

Pregnancy factors:

prenatal pathologies in the development of a baby;
multiple pregnancy;
erythroblastosis (hematolytic disease);
prenatal infection.

Symptoms of a Premature Baby

Premature babies have obvious clinical symptoms. There is the disproportion of body parts, the head (the skull) is bigger than the facial area. The bones of the skull are soft. Even though there are fontanels, there is the non-closure of the cranial structures. Besides, the earflaps are soft.

The subcutaneous tissue of the premature babies is not that good. That’s why they can’t “keep” temperature (thermoregulation is unstable). Premature babies suffer from pulmonary hypoplasia because there is no surfactant that allows the bronchic cells to open when a baby breathes in. That’s why there is a respiratory system disorder. Sometimes, apnea occurs (stop of breathing).

The skin integument is rugate. During the first 24 hours, the skin integument is bright red in color. The muscle tone is weak. Actually, there may be no muscle tone at all. Physiologic reflexes (sucking reflex, search reflex etc.) are quite weak.

In case of premature boys, testes are not in the marsupium. Premature girls have underdeveloped outer labia. Premature kids have syndrome of hydrocephalus and hypertensive syndrome. Due to the fact that eyelids are underdeveloped, premature babies have google eyes (exophthalmos).

Since the liver of premature babies doesn’t function the way it should, there occurs kemicterus. Since the immune system of premature babies is quite weak, they are very prone to getting infected. Premature babies regurgate very often. Besides, such babies have underdeveloped nail plates. They can cover only the half of the area.

Therapy in Case of Premature Babies

Neonatologist is a doctor who treats premature babies. If a baby is born earlier than necessary, he/she needs special environment. The temperature should be 25 °C and the air humidity should be not less than 55-60 %. That’s why premature babies are to be in a couveuse (special incubation apparatus).

Those babies who weigh less than 2000 g. are to be kept in couveuses. Premature babies are discharged from the hospital on the 8-10th day after they were born under the condition that they weigh 2000 g. when discharged.

In case a premature baby’s weight doesn’t reach 2000 g. within 14 days, such a baby is provided additional nursing therapy. Such a baby is kept in a couveuse in ET room of the babies’ department or a hospital. A baby is lying in a couveuse to which a special equipment providing him/her with oxygen is connected.

Premature babies are allowed to take a bath starting from the time they turn 2 weeks old, under the condition that umbilical cord remnant has healed. When such babies turn 3-4 weeks old and weigh 1700-1800 g., it’s allowed to take them for a walk. Premature babies are discharged from a hospital once their weight reaches 1700 g.

Feeding Premature Babies at Home

A baby is fed with expressed milk 2-6 after he/she was born under the condition that there are no contradictions and the term of pregnancy was somewhere between 34-37 weeks.

If it’s about extremely premature babies and a babies that are in critical condition, such babies are provided with feeding with the help of an enteral feeding tube (to the mouth/nose). This is the way babies are fed during the first 24-48 hours of their lives.

If a baby can actively suck, he/she may be breastfed under the condition that he/she weighs 1800-2000 g. On the 1st day, the amount of the feeding necessary is 5-10 ml. On the 2nd day 10-15 ml. On the 3rd day 15-20 ml.

Besides, premature babies should be provided with a number of vitamins (enlisted below):

Vicasol (vitamin K) in order to prevent intracraneal hemorrhage;
Cevitamic acid (vitamin C), vitamins B1 and B2;
Vitamin E (Tocopherol);
Vitamin D – a preventive measure against rickets;
Vitamins B6 and B5, lipoic acid (in cases a baby is extremely premature).

Consequences in Case of Premature Babies and Prognosis

Prognosis in terms of future development of premature babies depends on a number of factors. The first factor is the term of pregnancy when such a baby was born and his/her weigh. In case a baby is born on the 22-23rd week, the prognosis depends on the intensity and quality of the therapy provided.

There is an increased risk of fatal outcome under the following conditions:

pre-delivery bleeding;
breech presentation;
multiple pregnancy;
asphyxia of the baby (during labour);
low body temperature of a baby;
respiratory distress syndrome.

There may be other consequences in case a baby is premature. The risk of their occurrence also depends on a number of factors.

If the condition of a baby is fine in overall, these consequences are not ly to occur):

Developmental cognitive and physical multiplication;
Infantile cerebral paralysis;
Сonvulsive disorder and syndrome of hydrocephalus;
Myopia, astigmatism, glaucoma and retinal detachment;
A baby is very prone to getting infections;
Hearing disorder;
Menstrual disorder and sex infantilism, it may be hard for girls to get pregnant.

Источник: //infobaby.org/Premature_Babies/

Caring for a Premature Baby

Prayer For A Premature Baby

Chances are you never took a prenatal class called “Caring for Premature Babies.” But after your NICU experience, you know more than you realize.

One thing you’re aware of is how different your baby is compared with full-term newborns.

Keeping these differences in mind can help manage expectations — yours and other people’s — and give your child the best possible care now that he’s home.

What should I expect when it comes to caring for my preemie once we're home?

Even though your preemie has been given the okay to head home with Mom and Dad, that doesn’t mean he'll look or act a full-term newborn just yet. Here's what to expect:

He’s (still) smaller. Your baby was born tiny and it’s ly that when he leaves the hospital, he’ll still be smaller than a full-term newborn. (Many healthy premature babies are released well before their original due date.) So instead of a robust 8- or 9-pounder, you’re caring for a premature baby who may tip the scales at barely 5 pounds. But remember, small doesn’t necessarily mean frail: If your baby was healthy enough to come home, he’s strong enough for you to handle him without fear of hurting him. And do yourself a favor: Have a short, polite explanation ready (“He was born early, so he’s still catching up”) for anyone who raises an eyebrow about his age-to-size ratio over the next few months.
He’s much more susceptible to germs. One very important thing to know about caring for premature babies: Their immune systems weren’t fully developed before birth, so they get sick more than full-term babies. That means you must be extra careful for a while: Avoid public places and too many visitors.
He gets tired faster. It’s exhausting for preemies to simply be awake, much less in an alert state or nursing. That’s why caring for your premature baby may be all-consuming, at least for a while. He’ll spend less time in deep, restful sleep than a full-termer and he probably won’t sleep through the night as soon as other babies. He’ll also need to eat more often and get tuckered out from nursing. (The sheer physical effort of sucking and swallowing is huge for a preemie.) So don’t worry as much about getting your preemie (or yourself!) on a sleep schedule at first.
He may need special equipment. Some bigger preemies will come home without any medical equipment, but chances are for the first few months your baby will need an apnea monitor (which will sound an alarm if he stops breathing) and possibly oxygen. It can seem intimidating to have your baby connected to various machines with sticky leads on his chest, but you’ll soon feel thankful that you will know quickly if something is wrong. (And he’s still cute as a button, wires and all.)
He won’t be on a “newborn” schedule until his due date. When you’re caring for a premature baby, it’s best to ignore the typical infant milestones and consider your child’s adjusted age. That means your preemie won’t act a full-term newborn until at least his due date (and possibly not even then, if his development was hindered by his immature neurological system). So if your baby was born eight weeks early, he won’t be a “newborn” until he’s 2 months old, and so on.

Tips on caring for your preemie at home

At first, caring for a preemie can be trying, both because you’re short on sleep and you’re overly worried about your baby’s fragile status (even though she’s stronger than you think). In the beginning especially, these tips can make preemie parenting a smoother ride.

Learn to swaddle. In reality, your preemie should still be in the womb, which is why the security of the swaddle is even more important. Get help learning to swaddle your little one from the nurse before you leave the hospital and keep practicing until you can do it with your eyes closed (in case you fall asleep standing). Though preemies still don’t snooze as deeply, swaddling does help.
Don’t feel badly about waking her up. They say you should never wake a sleeping baby, but when it comes to preemies, it can be a must because they’re ly to sleep through feedings if you don’t. Many preterm babies don’t start off breastfeeding for a variety of reasons, but once they start, it can still be hard to keep them awake during a session. If your little one falls asleep constantly during feedings, try burping her, switching positions, singing a vibrant song, rubbing her forehead with a cool towel or changing the scenery.
Set ground rules when it comes to visitors. Family members eager to meet your baby may not understand that preemies are more prone to illness, so you’ll have to be firm about telling them that your baby isn’t ready to be passed around (but reassure them that the day will come). Always err on the side of caution — ban anyone with a cold (especially curious preschoolers or toddlers), and of course, no smoking around your baby is a no-brainer.
Get the support you need. Keep in touch with other preemie parents who were at the hospital with you after you leave the NICU. You’ll be amazed at how much extra time you have to text when you’re burning the midnight oil breastfeeding your sleepy preemie. Additionally, take a parenting class at the hospital or tap into the message boards at WhatToExpect.com to look for support from those who know what you're going through. If you think you have postpartum depression, be sure to tell your doctor immediately so you can get the help you need. Hormone fluctuations post-pregnancy are normal, but those coupled with the lack of sleep and the anxiety of caring for your teeny tiny baby can sometimes be too much.

Becoming a new parent is quite a commitment, but parenting a preemie can be even more intensive. At first, give yourself permission to let the dishes pile up in the sink, and don’t feel badly about taking a nap instead of folding laundry.

Just realize that the first few months may be chaotic, but soon enough things will begin to fall into place as you get the hang of your new role as a preemie parent. And the good news: Most preemies catch up completely by the time they’re toddlers.

Your little one ly won’t be little for long.

Updated 11/29/17

MORE ON PREEMIES

What To Expect, Feeding Your Premature Baby, December 2017
HealthyChildren.org, American Academy of Pediatrics, Caring for a Premature Baby: What Parents Need to Know, November 2015
HealthyChildren.org, American Academy of Pediatrics, Swaddling: Is it Safe?, January 2017
What To Expect, What to Do and How to Cope When Your Preemie's in the NICU, November 2017
What to Expect the First Year, 3rd Edition, Heidi Murkoff and Sharon Mazel

Источник: //www.whattoexpect.com/first-year/caring-for-a-premature-baby.aspx

Helping your Premature Baby Gain Weight

Prayer For A Premature Baby

A premature baby, also called preemie, needs to overcome several obstacles to become healthy. As the mother or the caregiver, you need to be extra careful and ensure that your baby is getting optimum nourishment.

There are many ways on how to increase weight of premature baby. However, before you decide a weight-gain plan for your baby, let’s look at who a premature baby is and how much exactly such a baby weighs.

Who is a Premature Baby?

A baby born before 37 weeks of gestation is considered a premature baby.

How Much Weight do Premature Babies Generally Gain?

Three kg is the approximate birth weight for full-term babies. The premature baby weight gain per day depends on when the baby was born. The earlier the delivery is, the lesser the baby will weigh. Premature babies usually have a birth weight of less than 2.3 kg.

Extremely low birth weight in babies can pose a serious risk to their survival. Thanks to medical advancement, more than 90% of the preemies weighing 800 gm or more can survive. These days, around 60% of the premature babies who are born weighing more than 500 gm survive.

All newborns follow a pattern as far as weight gain is concerned. They usually lose some weight during the initial few days. The weight loss could be due to a variety of factors. Babies who have just been delivered might have retained some fluids if your doctor gave you a hormone drip to speed up your labour.

In such a case, your baby will look chubby after birth but will eventually end up losing weight. But if your baby is losing more than 10% of his weight, then it might be a matter of concern, and you should consult the doctor.

The doctor will look at various factors feeding and excretion to understand why this is happening.

There is no weight loss after the fifth day of birth.

Ideally, babies take 14 days to return to their birth weight. Some might take more time. It is after this that babies start gaining weight.

They gain around 112-200 grams every week, and this continues until they turn 4 months old. The weight gain in the case of premature babies is usually lesser.

Tiny infants gain as low as 5 g each day while this goes up to 20 g each day for large preemies.

How to Calculate the Age of Premature Baby

To find out if your premature baby weight is normal, you need to find the age of your premature baby. The real age will be different from his date of delivery since he was born prematurely.

Subtract the number of weeks he/she is premature from the present week. This means if your baby is 9 weeks old and he/she arrived 2 weeks earlier, then you will need to check whether he/she is reaching the milestones meant for a 7-week old rather than a baby who is 9 weeks old.

Gestational Age (weeks)	Average Weight (grams)	Average Weight (ounces)	Average Length (centimeters)	Average Length (inches)	Average Head Circumference (centimeters)	Average Head Circumference (inches)
23	584	20.6	29.9	11.8	20.9	8.2
24	651	23.0	31.1	12.2	21.8	8.6
25	737	26.0	32.3	12.7	22.7	8.9
26	827	29.2	33.6	13.2	23.6	9.3
27	936	33.0	35	13.8	24.5	9.6
28	1061	37.4	36.5	14.4	25.5	10.0
29	1204	42.5	38	15.0	26.5	10.4
30	1373	48.4	39.5	15.6	27.5	10.8
31	1546	54.5	41	16.1	28.4	11.2
32	1731	61.1	42.3	16.7	29.3	11.5
33	1956	69.0	43.7	17.2	30.2	11.9
34	2187	77.1	45	17.7	31.1	12.2
35	2413	85.1	46.2	18.2	31.9	12.6
36	2664	94.0	47.4	18.7	32.7	12.9
37	2937	103.6	48.5	19.1	33.3	13.1
38	3173	111.9	49.5	19.5	33.7	13.3
39	3338	117.7	50.2	19.8	34	13.4
40	3454	121.8	50.8	20.0	34.3	13.5
41	3530	124.5	51.3	20.2	34.5	13.6

Please note: The measurements given here are averages, and healthy babies may be larger or smaller.

When Do Premature Babies Begin to Gain Weight?

The weight gain of preemies depends on many factors. One of the most important one among them is when the baby was born. They start gaining weight after a few days of their birth.

Nourishing your Premature Baby

Breastfeeding is one of the most important things that you need to do to promote healthy weight gain in your baby. Mother’s milk is the best way to build a premature baby’s strength and health. It will also help their gut to grow and prevent all kinds of infection.

Colostrum is the first milk that your breasts produce, and this is where your baby’s feeding should be started. Colostrum is full of nutrients and it offers all the nourishment that your baby needs at this time.

Preemies need to be fed following a schedule and not on demand. Keep track of when you are feeding your baby and try and feed him at regular intervals.

This will help the baby get their nutrients at the right time. Talk to your doctor about how often you need to feed your baby.

Your doctor might ask you to feed your baby every 2-3 hours and you need to do that even at the cost of your baby’s sleep.

As your baby turns 4-5 months, the doctor will tell you when and how you can include solid foods.

How to Feed Your Preemie in Initial Weeks?

A neonatal paediatrician will analyse your baby’s condition and then decide on the best way to feed them during the initial weeks. Some of the ways in which preemies are fed are:

The nutrients and fluids are sent via an IV line which goes into the preemie’s leg, arm or head. This is the preferred method if the preemie is very premature, has breathing problems as the lungs are not fully developed, and the digestive system is premature.

Nasal feeding or gavage feeding involves sending the mother’s milk or formula directly to the baby’s stomach via a tube through their nose or mouth. This is suggested for babies who have weak a heart or lungs and have coordination problems.

This is a painless way to feed your baby where the doctor places a tube inside your baby’s umbilical cord. Chances of infection are high, and so this is recommended only in the most critical cases.

When the baby can suck and swallow, the medical team will help you to attempt breastfeeding.

An IV line is inserted in a vein of your baby and this line delivers the required nutrients to your baby.

Baby Tending Tips to Help Your Infant Thrive

Skin to skin contact is important as this helps your baby to gain weight, keeps them warm, regulates their heartbeat and breathing rate, ensures sleep for your baby, and increasing the chances of breastfeeding.
Massaging can also help your baby gain weight.
Make sure you do not miss even a single doctor’s appointment as checking your baby’s weight on a regular basis is critical.
Cuddle your baby, give him attention, and keep him happy.

Conclusion

Premature babies are fragile and require to be taken care of in a controlled environment. The good news is that the success rate of survivability is high and weight gain helps put this survivability on track. The above tips will help you in ensuring this weight gain for your preemie.

Источник: //parenting.firstcry.com/articles/helping-your-premature-baby-gain-weight/