Prematurity defintion
Under 37 weeks gestation
Potential premature rupture of membranes - managenet
Refer to midwife/obstetrics
What makes a fetus at higher risk from prematurity
Male
Fetal grwoth restriction
Multiple preg
No Anternatal steroids
Steroid course to improve prematurity outcome
12 mg betamethasone, 24 hours apart, hopefully up to 24 hours before delivery
What assements to do for fetus in premature rupture of membranes
Fetal blood flow using Doppler
Mainstays of fetal wellbeing
probability of premature survival rate
23 ~30%
25 weeks ~70%
28 weeks ~90%
Managment for fetus at high risk of demise
When is surfactant released from type 2 pneumocytes
After 24 weeks
- lowers surface tension so alveoli don’t collapse
Ie RISK of RDS if born <28 weeks
Chronic lung disease of prematurity lung outcome
Hyperexpanded, diffusion defect, cystic changes
- alveoli don’t grow as much after prem birth
- caused by treatments for RDS
When is brainstem fully myelinated
32 - 34 weeks
Prems forget to breath occasionally (oft associated with bradycardia) because not fully myelinated
Apnoea of prem Tx
Neonatal haemorrhage
Infant benefit of breast milk
Less Infection:
Diarrhoea, Otitis media, Respiratory Syncytical Virus, Respiratory Infections, Enhanced Vaccine Response
Less immune driven/allergic disease:
Wheezing, Childhood cancer, Eczema, Hodgkin’s disease, Multiple sclerosis, Crohn’s disease, Diabetes mellitus, Enhanced immunologic development
Reduces risk of NEC
Reduced Reduced SIDS
Reduced Gastroesophageal Reflux
Lower risk of Childhood Inguinal Hernia
Higher IQ
Better Cognitive Development
Maternal benefits of breast feeding
Reduces cancer risk for:
Breast, Uterine, Ovarian, Endometrial
Improved health with less:
Post partum haemorrhage, postnatal depression, Decrease insulin requirements in diabetics, Osteoporosis later in life, Less child abuse
Promotes postpartum weight loss
Optimum child spacing
Less food expense
Less medical expense
More ecological
Delays fertility
Feeding prems
Doesn’t get suckling reflex till 32-34 weeks
Causes of Jaundice in neonates
Unconjugated: high levels cause kernicterus
Caused by: haemolysis, prematurity, sepsis, dehydration, hypothyroid, metabolic disease
High levels treated by phototherapy (blue light, 450 nm) or exchange transfusions
Conjugated: high levels not a worry
Caused by: prolonged parenteral nutrition, NEC, sepsis, metabolic, anatomical problems
When must jaundice be investigated in neonates
If lasting more than 3 weeks
(can leave for 5 weeks if prem as common for prem jaundice)
When does IgG transfer from mum occur
Last 3 months of gestation (prems get less of this + less active cell mediated immunity)
Necrotising enterocolitis
Bacterial invasion + large bowel ischaemia -> mural oedema + intramural gas -> can get perforation
Retinopathy of prem
If high risk -> laser therapy
Parental help for prems/neonatal complications
Antenatal counselling
Post delivery counselling
Prognostic counselling
Regular updates
Palliative care counselling
Bereavement counselling
Meconium aspiration syndrome
Meconium Ileus
Thickening of meconium -> obstruction
- commonly early indicator of cystic fibrosis