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Premature babies are more prone to fall ill because they are not physically ready to get out of the womb. Their immune systems are not mature enough to be strong enough to fight infection. So, what should parents do when premature babies are sick?
Tips for dealing with and caring for sick premature babies
Premature babies who are healthy and stable are already discharged from the hospital. However, germs can attack babies at any time after they are at home. When premature babies are sick, parents are bound to be very worried and anxious. Do you need to go straight to the doctor or hospital emergency room when your baby falls ill?
Before you panic and rush, you must first be able to distinguish between common signs of illness and serious illness. In most cases, symptoms of general illness can usually be treated at home. When you find out that your baby is seriously ill, then you decide to go seek medical help.
Recognize common signs of illness first
The signs of a sick premature baby may be a little difficult to recognize. Newborn babies cannot complain of pain, and can only cry. Crying babies are often misinterpreted as signs of sleepiness or hunger, even though their bodies are not in good condition.
Besides being more fussy, sick babies are generally sleepy more often and sleep longer than usual. They also find it difficult to wake up while breastfeeding.
You can also see if your baby is sick or is still fine from the stool. Healthy babies who are exclusively breastfed pass yellow stools, while formula-fed babies pass brown stools. When the baby is sick, he will more often defecate up to 3-4 times a day.
Symptoms of pain in babies can also be seen from vomiting. Spitting up after feeding is normal, but if the vomit is a different color than usual and becomes much more frequent even if not finished feeding, this is a sign that the baby is sick If not addressed immediately, babies who frequently defecate and vomit are at risk of becoming dehydrated.
