5 important things to keep in mind when caring for premature babies.

Premature babies require special care from their parents, including high-quality food... all of which helps them grow and develop strongly.

Nutrition for babies

A mother has three options for her premature baby: breast milk, formula, or a combination of both.

Breast milk:Breast milk is the best source of nutrition for infants, especially premature babies. Its components help gradually improve the baby's health. The components (living cells, enzymes, hormones, lactoferrin, and lysozyme) in breast milk help reduce the baby's risk of infection, promote growth, and provide a huge source of protein.

Ideally, mothers should try to give their premature babies as much colostrum as possible, which will help them avoid jaundice – a condition that premature babies are at a very high risk of developing.

The nutrients in breast milk are in proportions perfectly suited to the baby's age. It helps premature babies digest better, especially since breast milk is a huge source of fat and calcium. Breast milk also helps stimulate intestinal function and enzyme production.

In summary, premature babies who receive breast milk are more likely to develop better, faster, and be stronger than babies who are fed formula.

Breastfeeding reduces a baby's risk of infections and pneumonia.gastroenteritis...ear infections, fewer allergies, reduced risk of anemia, reduced risk of inflammatory bowel disease.

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Although manufacturers try to make formula milk as similar to breast milk as possible, formula milk cannot contain the special antibodies that breast milk provides.

One difficulty mothers face after giving birth prematurely is that the premature baby cannot yet leave the incubator – a special care unit – so mothers often have to express breast milk. This is both strenuous and time-consuming, but it is something mothers should do.

After the mother expresses her milk, healthcare workers will feed the premature baby using a method appropriate for the child (this could be intravenous, through a feeding tube, or direct feeding). Pediatric experts believe that colostrum stimulates the production of hormones that help the baby's digestive system develop.

When the baby shows signs of being ready to leave the incubator, there is a greater chance for the baby to breastfeed. At this time, the mother will help the baby recognize food, starting with licking, and eventually sucking on breast milk.

Keep your baby warm.

Premature babiesBabies are very susceptible to hypothermia, even in hot weather. This is because they have a very thin layer of subcutaneous fat, which reduces their ability to retain heat.

Furthermore, premature babies have weaker resistance and immunity compared to full-term babies, so keeping them warm is extremely important, especially during the cold season and the current unpredictable weather conditions.

Babies need to be kept in a room with a stable temperature of 27-29 degrees Celsius. They should wear a thin hat, mittens, and socks, and their neck and stomach should be kept warm. Absolutely avoid taking the baby outside.

Isolate yourself from sick people.

That's the key advice healthcare professionals give to parents of premature babies. Newborns are already fragile, but premature babies are even weaker and have an extremely high risk of contracting illnesses.

Parents should keep the environment around their children as clean as possible. Before caring for or being close to their children, family members should clean themselves and wash their hands with antibacterial soap.

Baby massage

This is extremely important; it helps premature babies become stronger quickly, improves their respiratory system, enhances their immunity, speeds up metabolism and eliminates toxins through the skin, and most importantly, it strengthens the mother-child bond, helping the baby feel closer to and understand their mother better.

Parents need to be optimistic.

Many parents of premature babies are often distressed and worried about their child's future; they are constantly anxious day and night or leave everything to the doctors, and that is the wrong way to express their concern.

Parents should remain calm, patient, and loving, cuddling their children every day so that the child feels their parents' love. This is also a way to help the child be healthy and grow strong quickly.

According to aFamily - NT