9 complications that babies may have when mothers give birth at 34 weeks

In most cases, the survival rate of the baby when the mother gives birth at 34 weeks is quite high, although serious complications are still associated.

A normal pregnancy will last from 38 to 40 weeks. However, in some cases, the baby can be born at 8 months. These babies are called premature birth and several factors contribute to this phenomenon.

The following article, aFamilyToday Health will join you in exploring the issue of giving birth at 34 weeks as well as related information.

Causes of giving birth 34 weeks

There are many conditions that make the timing of labor coming sooner than expected, such as:

Having an uterus that is too large due to multiple pregnancy or too much amniotic fluid

An abnormality in the structure of the uterus or cervix such as cervical dysfunction

Abdominal surgery during pregnancy to remove the ovarian, appendix, or gallbladder cyst

Placenta problems like striker, placenta dissection, placenta abnormality

Some genital tract infections are known to be at risk of having a 34 week baby. Bacterial secretions weaken the membranes surrounding the amniotic sac, causing premature rupture of the part of the amniotic sac or other complications. preterm labor

Pregnant mother had an accident ...

Complications if you give birth at 34 weeks

Here are some of the more common complications of preterm infants at 34 weeks, including:

1. Confidentiality

Jaundice is one of the most common problems in premature babies because the metabolic system is still incomplete. As a result, a byproduct of blood such as bilirubin builds up in the body, causing the skin and eyes to turn yellow. This condition is also known as jaundice.

2. Anemia

Anemia is caused by a decrease in the number of red blood cells in the blood. These blood cells are responsible for carrying oxygen to different parts of the body, they are essential for all metabolic processes and growth. A premature baby will not have enough blood to develop completely and make the body weaker than usual.

3. Respiratory failure syndrome (RDS)

The underdeveloped respiratory system in premature babies makes it easy for the baby to experience breathing difficulties. The little angel is also sensitive to environmental conditions and any changes could cause serious complications, such as respiratory failure .

4. Sleep apnea

Sleep apnea is a disorder that prevents an infant from breathing on its own, a condition caused by an underdeveloped respiratory system. Unfortunately, premature babies suffer from this condition until their bodies mature. Sleep apnea syndrome is often treated with medication and closely monitored.

5. Infections

When you give birth to the 34th week of pregnancy, your baby is susceptible to infection due to the weak immune system. Because babies are no longer protected by their mother's body against bacteria, they have a higher risk of disease than full term babies.

6. And the ductus arteriosus

This is an artery that connects the mother to the baby and may not close properly after preterm birth. This can lead to serious complications.

7. Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD)

Having bronchopulmonary dysplasia causes a child to need ventilator support for many weeks.

8. Low blood pressure

Infants born prematurely do not have the ability to store blood or blood vessels are not well developed. Therefore, the baby is also unable to maintain normal blood pressure, leading to hypotension shortly after birth.

9. Necrotizing enterocolitis

This is a serious condition where the intestinal wall of a premature baby will be invaded by bacteria. Infections caused by an underdeveloped intestine can also lead to erosion or even perforation of the intestine, allowing stool to enter the abdominal cavity.

How to take care of a 34 week premature baby

A premature baby at 34 weeks of pregnancy needs careful care at various stages, such as:

1. Incubation

Premature babies born when their mothers are 8 months pregnant will be cared for in incubators, where babies can be closely monitored at all times. In addition, doctors also use specialized equipment to aid breathing, help the baby suckle or other physiological needs. Finally, the atmosphere inside the incubator is carefully controlled to best support the baby's growth and recovery.

2. Feeding

Premature babies cannot breastfeed because their suckling abilities are not well coordinated. Instead, your baby will be fed through a tube that goes straight from the mouth to the stomach.

If oral feeding is not possible, the doctor will administer the nutrients intravenously. You may be asked to pump to feed your baby because breastmilk is a balanced source of nutrients and necessary antibodies. After leaving the incubator, the newborn will be able to breastfeed like normal babies.

3. Connect with your baby

The physical interaction between mother and child is very important to the health of both. However, not being able to touch your baby while in an incubator can become a difficult experience for you. On the other hand, this is just a matter of time, under the careful supervision of doctors and nurses, you can soon feed and cuddle your baby.

Survival rate of the baby when the mother was pregnant at 34 weeks

The highest infant mortality is found in premature birth. This ratio will decrease as the baby's gestational age gets older. If the baby is not too premature, the survival rate is over 98% (16.2 deaths per 1,000 cases). Therefore, unless there are many serious complications, most babies survive.

How long will a premature baby stay in the incubator?

All premature babies must meet certain developmental milestones before they can go out of the incubator. If your baby is born after 34 weeks of pregnancy, his stay in the intensive care unit can be quite short, expected to last until the baby reaches 38 weeks gestation.

A premature baby will need help breathing. In particular, feeding the baby will take a lot of time because the child's reflexes are not well coordinated, thereby making it difficult for the baby to have enough nutrition to develop. Therefore, parents need to equip a lot of information around taking care of their premature babies at home  so they can reach normal growth milestones.