Premature Infant Needs

and the Benefits of Kangaroo Care

Create d an d pres en te d by

Er ik a Bro w n, N VC C St uden t Nurse

Monday, December 12, 2011

Preemies
Are infants born before 37 weeks gestation They have different nutritional needs than fullterm babies, and they are more prone to hypothermia, hypoglycemia, respiratory problems, and other complications because their organs have not reached the maturation needed to function outside the womb Therefore they need close monitoring, which interferes/postpones the bonding process and causes lifelong negative effects

Monday, December 12, 2011

Special Needs of Preemies: Nutrition/weight gain

Preemies: Are at increased risk for aspiration Their stomach is very small, and their digestive enzymes are immature They often need to be fed via IVs or through a tube, and they must be monitored for intake and output (6-8 wet diapers and 1-6 stools/day). Breast milk is the recommended diet for preemies Human milk fortifier(supplement) may be added to the breast milk If breastfeeding is not possible, special preterm formulas can be used Caloric need: 160-180 cal/kg/day The desired weight gain depends on the babys size, GA, and health. Approx. 15 g/kg/day.

Monday, December 12, 2011

Special Needs of Preemies: Heat

Preemies are prone to cold stress, because: They lack subcutaneous and brown fat deposits necessary for thermoregulation Their skin is very thin, loose heat easily They lack the ability to shiver or sweat They have poor muscle tone and muscle mass activity They have an immature temperature regulation center in the brain Keeping them warm (core temperature of 36.7-37.3 C) allows them to use their energy for growth and development, and fight off infections

Monday, December 12, 2011

Special Needs of Preemies: Sleep

Premature infants need more sleep than term babies in order to grow They tend to sleep less at a time, which makes it difficult to get quality sleep They need a quiet environment with reduced stimuli to maintain a stable metabolic rate They are at greater risk for SIDS, therefore should always be placed on their backs while sleeping on a hard surface

Monday, December 12, 2011

Special Needs of Preemies: Love

Potential factors that hinder early parental attachment and adaptation to the preterm infant: Early separation due to medical conditions requiring close monitoring in the NICU Anticipatory grief over the potential loss of the newborn Maternal feelings of failure Feeling unable to care for the babys special needs

Monday, December 12, 2011

Special Needs of Preemies: Love

It is important that parents acknowledge and accept the mixture of their emotions Try to spend as much time as possible with the baby, caution should be paid though not to overwhelm the newborn (too much stimulation can make preemies agitated because they have an immature nervous system). Parents can try: hold the babys hand (avoid stroking because it can be painful/irritating to some preemies) talk softly to the baby ask the nurse to let change the diaper, take the babys temperature, or bathe the baby hold baby in Kangaroo position

Monday, December 12, 2011

Kangaroo Care
What is it?

Monday, December 12, 2011

Kangaroo Care
Was first initiated in Bogota, Columbia in the late 1970s as a result of incubator shortages and a high rate of premature infant mortality Is a method of holding the baby skin-to-skin on the mothers(fathers) chest (tummy) in an upright position The baby wears only diapers and a hat, and his/ her back is covered with a cloth or the parents shirt

Monday, December 12, 2011

Kangaroo Care Benefits

While early maternal separation can result in lifelong damage to systems involved in arousal regulation, stress reactivity, attention, and learning, skin-to-skin contact proved to reverse some of these effects

Monday, December 12, 2011

10

Kangaroo Care: Benefits to the Newborn

Stability and maturation in

each 5 neuro- behavioral systems that are compromised by prematurity: autonomic, motor, state, attentioninteraction, and self-regulation Improved time and quality of sleep, as well as improved alert states Lower and more stable heart rate

Improved oxygenation and gas exchange, decreased apnea and bradycardia Body temperature maintained Decreased crying Relaxation, better response to stressful stimuli Faster growth rate and earlier discharge

Monday, December 12, 2011

11

Kangaroo Care: Benefits to Mom

Improved bonding and parenting:) Lowered stress, increased confidence/ competence and positive feelings toward the infant Increased maternal milk supply, as well as length of breastfeeding at home Increased maternal oxytocin levels, which improves mood and reduces stress and depression

Monday, December 12, 2011

12

Conclusion
Preterm infants have specific needs that require special attention Parents need to find a way to cope with their feelings and find ways to bond with the baby Research showed that Kangaroo Care is extremely beneficial to preemies, because it addresses their most basic needs-nutrition, sleep, heat, and love Kangaroo Care increases the chance for survival, and reverses the negative effects of early separation Kangaroo Care proved to alleviate parental negative feelings and to improve bonding.

Monday, December 12, 2011

13

Bibliography
Wong, Donna, & Perry, Shannon. (2006). Maternal child nursing care. USA: Mosby Inc. Feldman, R. (2004). Mother-infant skin-to-skin contact (kangaroo care) theoretical, clinical, and empirical aspects. Infants and Young Children, 17(2), 145-161. Neonatal weight gain and nutrition. Medline plus medical encyclopedia. Retrieved (2010, March 1) from http:// www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/007302.htm Kangaroo care. (n.d.). The Cleveland Clinic Foundation. Retrieved (2010, March 1) from http:// my.clevelandclinic.org/healthy_living/Infant_Care/hic_Kangaroo_Care.aspx Honigsfeld, Andrea, & Dunn, Rita. (Winter 2006). Learning-style characteristics of adult learners. Delta Kappa Gamma Bulletin, 72(2). Retrieved (2010, March 1) from http://search.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.vccs.edu:2048/ login.aspx

Monday, December 12, 2011

14