Any baby that is born before the completion of at least 37 weeks of pregnancy is generally termed as a premature baby. The development of the baby is yet to be completed across the full cycle of 40 weeks. Therefore, extra precautions and measures need to be undertaken to ensure that the baby stays safe and healthy.
Following are the causes of childbirth at 33 weeks of pregnancy:
Premature babies are prone to several health risks. Some of the risks include:
If a baby is born in the 33rd week of the pregnancy, his weight is usually around 1.5 to 3 kilograms. Babies that are less than 2 to 2.5 kilograms require extensive measures to keep them alive until they reach the designated weight. The weight is a marker of body fat present in the baby, which is essential in maintaining a safe body temperature outside the womb. Radiating warmers, incubators, electric beds can all be used to ensure the baby stays warm throughout. Once the baby gains enough weight, these can be removed.
For the baby to gain weight as fast as possible, feeding is the primary thing that needs to be undertaken. However, babies born before completing 34 weeks of pregnancy are unable to suckle the breast as effectively as required. This also leads to ruling out the possibility of mouth feedings, since the inability to suckle affects the digestive process and mouth feeding might result in indigestion, which could lead to further complications. In such cases, a feeding tube is the only way to ensure that the baby gets all the nutrients he requires. This tube goes right into the baby’s stomach or can even be intravenous, too.
A large part of a baby’s development happens inside the womb which prepares it to perceive the world after delivery. Up until the 35th week of pregnancy, the baby’s brain is only at 66% of its final weight. Due to premature delivery at 33rd week, the brain doesn’t have a chance to develop fully, which could result in behavioural problems later in life.
Just like the brain, another system that requires time inside the womb to function at an optimal level outside is the immunity system. The baby receives a boost of antibodies in the final stages of the pregnancy which enables him to survive the initial wave of bacteria and infections that might come his way. A premature delivery followed by incessant procedures to keep the baby alive can greatly increase the risk of infection and further complications.
As a premature baby require a little extra care in comparison to healthy babies, there are certain protocols that are recommended for their care.
The survival rate of babies born in the 33rd week of pregnancy stands at a solid 98 percent. This is a good sign that your baby will be able to stay put and grow well within no time.
For a baby born at 33 weeks, his stay at NICU is determined by the complications he baby suffers from. For most babies, the stay in the NICU is usually short. Breathing issues might resolve soon but feeding does take quite some time. The reflexes of sucking and swallowing need quite a bit of strength. Ensuring that your baby gets enough sleep is also observed in NICU and the baby is discharged only when he is completely fine.
Even if the baby is prematurely born at 33 weeks, the chances of him leading a good newborn life are pretty high and strong. Keeping your calm while the baby recovers to a good state and taking the right precautions going forward, can ensure that you and your baby lead the journey of growing up together without complications.