How to Care for Your Premature Infant

Pregnancy doesn't always last a full nine months and many babies are born prematurely. Premature infants need special care and may remain in the hospital several weeks or even months after they are born. When parents hear the news that their baby can finally go home with them they are overcome with happiness yet at the same time they are filled with anxiety. They worry about caring for them properly. Some parents may even be afraid to hold their baby especially since they are so small and fragile. Caring for a premature infant can take some getting used to but with proper instruction from hospital personnel and in-home medical care the transition can be less stressful.

My daughter recently brought home her premature infant so she is still going through the adjustment period. Her son was delivered at 31 weeks. He weighed a tiny 2 pounds and eleven ounces.He remained in the hospital for the first month of his life. He has checked out well and no health problems have been detected so far. He continues to gain weight and now weighs 5 pounds and 6 ounces. The baby is hooked up to a portable monitor that alerts his parents in the event of a drop in heart rate. At this time it is uncertain how long he will remain on the monitor.

The amount of time a premature infant spends in the hospital is determined by several factors including weight, body temperature, heart rate and whether there were any health problems or complications that required surgery or specialized care. The following criteria must be met before a premature infant will be released from the hospital.

The infant must be able to maintain body heat in an open bed.

The infant must be able to take all feedings and continue to gain weight.

The infant must be breathing normally and maintain a normal heart rate for a week.