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Baby Born at 36 Weeks of Pregnancy
9 months used to be considered a full-term pregnancy and babies born in 36 weeks would be treated just like fully grown babies. However, over time, science and medicine have realized that a baby needs at least 37 weeks, if not more, to be developed fully and survive outside the womb.
What Causes Child Birth at 36 Weeks?
A number of reasons can be attributed to a baby being born at 36 weeks.
If the mother is suffering from infections, primarily bacterial, these could affect the membranes of the amniotic sac and start rupturing them. Any vaginal infection that leads to a discharge and burning sensation while passing urine along with genital irritation is a strong sign of such an infection. Other infections like gonorrhoea and chlamydia could also trigger a premature delivery.
The chances of a child being born prematurely are even higher in mothers who have had previous pregnancies which also ended in premature births. Most doctors do make use of tocolytic medications such as magnesium sulfate to keep the premature contractions in check. This delayed delivery is complemented with steroids to boost the baby’s lung growth in a short period of time while making use of other equipment to look after him.
At times, the presence of certain health conditions in the baby or in the mother might require an early delivery as deemed necessary by the doctor. This is usually done at a higher risk of infant mortality if the pregnancy is allowed to continue as opposed to a premature delivery. A caesarean surgery is usually conducted in such cases, although 39 weeks of pregnancy is still recommended.
Existing conditions of the mother such as those related to the heart, or diabetes, blood pressure or so, followed by consecutive pregnancies with fewer intervals and IVF can all lead to premature deliveries. On the other hand, great health conditions in a bad living environment can trigger early delivery, too. Poor lifestyle choices such as consuming alcohol, drugs and smoking, along with stressful and abusive life moments like long working hours or domestic violence, can lead to the same as well.
Development of a Baby Born at 36 Weeks
For a baby born at 36 weeks, the average weight is usually around 2.5 to 3 kgs and the length is around 44 to 49 cms. The fine hair covering the baby’s body while he was inside the womb is on its way out along with the amniotic fluid layer that keeps the baby safe in the womb. All of these are usually consumed by the baby. This results in the first poop that your baby has - called meconium - to be greenish black in colour.
At 36 weeks of growth, the chances of your baby having fully matured lungs are 50-50, since some babies are still born with immature lungs at this stage. The circulatory system and the immunity of the child are at a pretty good stage and can survive the real world in a better way. The digestive system, however, is yet to still mature.
Complications Associated with Babies Born at 36 Weeks
Some of the complications that these babies face include,
1. Regulating Body Temperature
Even at 36 weeks, your baby might not have the necessary amount of fats that are required to be burnt by the body in order to maintain an optimal temperature for growth. This can lead to him being cold, which in worst cases, can cause hypothermia as well. Constant temperature checkups and incubators might be required.
2. Feeding Problems
The reflex that triggers the actions to suck on the breast and swallow the milk is possibly weaker in premature babies than their full-term counterparts. This can result in the baby sleeping away even while hungry, or failing to make any sound or suckling action even when he wants to have milk. Latching onto the breast can be yet another problem since he won’t be able to suck the nipple as strongly as he needs to. Pumping the breast while feeding might be necessary.
3. Breathing Issues
Lungs may or may not be fully developed that could cause your little one to breathe erratically. Another possible breathing complication is the onset of apnea. This is primarily due to an underdeveloped brain that can cause the breathing process to stop for a while, without receiving a trigger to continue breathing.
4. Risk of Infection
The weak immune system makes the baby susceptible to bacterial attack and other illnesses. This is further compounded by the body’s inability to maintain temperature making it easy for microbes to infect him.
5. Contracting Jaundice
Most premature babies contract jaundice due to their weak liver function. The buildup of bilirubin results in yellow skin and eyes and requires treatment.
How to Care for a Premature Baby Born at 36 Weeks?
Caring for a premature baby can be a little different from caring for healthy babies. Here are some things you can keep in mind.
1. Skin-to-Skin Contact
Apart from all the medical procedures and measures to ensure continued support for the health of your child, creating a strong bond between you and your baby is essential for yourself as well as the baby. Having skin-to-skin contact as much as possible lets your baby know that you are taking care of him and calms him down. He can sense your presence pretty well and will love the warmth that your body provides him.
2. Breastfeeding
Once your doctor deems it fine to let your baby start feeding the usual way, you can opt to start with breastfeeding. This also necessitates that you continue expressing your breastmilk even when the child is not having any initially. Consumption of breastmilk further boosts the immunity of your baby as it provides him with necessary antibodies. If holding your baby and letting him suck on the breast is still a problem, you can choose to feed him using a bottle. Formula-based milk should be used only if you have problems with breastmilk production.
What is the Survival Rate of Baby Born at 36 Weeks?
For 36 week fetus born prematurely, the survival rate is still pretty good, hovering around 98 to 99 per cent.
Finally being able to hold your newborn baby is a wonderful feeling, even if he is a little premature. Once the necessary care has been taken to ensure that he can breathe well, feed well, and can maintain his temperature by himself, you can bring your baby home and start taking the steps to build a real family. Read more
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Breast Compression while Breastfeeding - Benefits and Techniques
If the term “Breast Compression” sounds odd and gives you the impression of milking yourself, then you are not off the target. It is a useful technique new mothers can follow to ensure that the breast empties its milk content and the baby feeds more efficiently. The production of milk is enhanced due to breast compression, since the baby feeds more frequently and in a thorough manner, thus emptying the breasts.
What are Breast Compressions?
The breastfeeding method of building a mother’s milk supply and one that encourages the new-born to suckle more effectively is known as breast compression. The mother holds the baby in its nursing position and holds her breast with her fingers at its base and the thumb at the top. While doing so, she gently squeezes the breast which facilitates more milk, hence the baby gets more milk. Through breast compression during breastfeeding, you are able to ensure that the baby gets all the milk you have produced. During this process, the milk glands are gently pressurised to release more milk and this increases the milk flow. If the baby receives more milk every time it suckles, it is encouraged to keep sucking actively. This increases the feeding frequency and the production of milk increases since the breasts are being emptied regularly.
What are The Benefits of Breast Compression?
Though breast compression while pumping for milk is an underrated technique, it is one of the most helpful methods to use while feeding the baby. Breast Compression has the following benefits:
It helps to feed new-born babies who often fall asleep while suckling and find it difficult to complete the feeding session. This generally happens when the milk flow is slow and stops intermittently. Just like kids need to be nudged to finish their meal, by compressing the breast slightly, a small quantity of milk is forced into the baby’s mouth. This helps in completing the feed, and the baby feels full.
Mothers often get sore nipples due to long feeding sessions. Through breast compression, the feeding time can be shortened without impacting the quantity of milk being consumed by the baby.
It is helpful for babies who do not gain weight as desired to consume more milk during a feeding session.
Many babies have difficulty in latching on, due to which they do not feed enough to satisfy their hunger. Such babies compress the breast using their gums or even create a vacuum with their mouth to help the milk to flow out evenly and adequately. Breast compression is an effective method of supporting the babies to feed entirely.
Mothers who have a low supply of milk can enhance it by carrying out breast compression regularly during feeding time.
Breast compression helps to empty milk faster and encourages faster production of milk. Mothers who express milk for storage while they are away could use this technique to gain the above benefits.
Mothers who experience mastitis can use breast compression to keep the milk flowing. Mastitis is caused due to a clogged milk duct and is an infection that makes expressing milk an agonising experience for mothers. If you think that mastitis will make breast compression painful, then make sure you press slightly above or around the infected area to avoid the pain.
How to Do Breast Compressions while Nursing?
If there are no problems with breastfeeding and your baby is getting as much milk as he needs, then breast compression is not required. But when maximising your baby’s intake becomes a priority, it proves to be a great support. Follow the below mentioned steps to carry out breast compression while nursing your baby to make feeding time satisfying for both.
Hold your baby with one arm while your palm supports his head.
Encircle your breast with the other hand and place the thumb on one side of the breast (preferably on the top side). The rest of the fingers should be placed on the lower side of the breast, near the rib portion of the chest.
See if the baby is drinking milk in the right manner. The baby can drink large amounts of milk when he uses the “open mouth-pause-close mouth” sucking method.
Watch when the baby stops using the “open mouth-pause-close mouth” method and simply nibbles at the breast. Now compress the breast in a manner that will put pressure on the entire breast. Do not roll your fingers along the breast, hold and squeeze in a manner so that it does not hurt. When you compress the breast, the baby should begin drinking again with the “open mouth-pause-close mouth”. Make sure to use compression while the baby is sucking but not in the process of drinking milk. Watching videos of how to compress the breast while suckling the baby will help too.
Maintain the pressure on the compression until the baby sucks at the breast without actually drinking. If the baby does or does not suck without drinking, then release the pressure. Your baby may stop sucking altogether if you stop compression but as soon as the milk begins to flow, he will start again.
By releasing the pressure, you will be able to rest your hands a bit and will also allow milk to begin flowing again. Do not worry if the baby stops sucking when you ease the pressure as the taste of milk will soon become irresistible for him to resume.
As the baby resumes sucking, he may go back to the earlier method of “open mouth-pause-close mouth”. If he doesn’t, begin compression as mentioned above.
Keep the baby on the same side till you feel he isn’t sucking even after compression. Hold him there for a while as there could milk reflex and the baby can drink for a while. When the baby finally stops drinking, take him off and allow some rest.
Offer the other breast if the baby demands more and repeat the process as earlier.
You could also switch sides several times during one feeding session to give your tired arms and hands some rest.
All throughout, focus on improving the baby’s latch for better feeds.
Compress when the baby sucks but does not drink and allow the baby to begin sucking. It is also recommended not to compress if the baby has stopped sucking.
Can all Mothers Do Breast Compressions?
There isn’t a rule that says that all mother should carry out breast compressions while breastfeeding the baby. As long as your little one is gaining weight as required, seems happy and your milk production seems to be adequate to satiate his hunger, you will not need to do breast compressions. If you have sore nipples or any abrasions around the nipples, breast compression may become slightly tricky. If not, most mothers can perform breast compressions without a hitch as and when needed.
Can Breast Compression Cause Blocked Ducts?
Although experience cautions mothers from pressing or squeezing the breasts while breastfeeding the baby, if done in the right manner it does not cause blocked ducts. This was a common fear for new mothers in earlier times, but knowledge and awareness have led to the clearing of such doubts to a large extent. If the right technique is followed and done gently, breast compression can prove a highly useful technique for increasing milk flow and get the baby to begin sucking once again. As mentioned above, do not press into the breast throughout the feeding session. Instead, press and release the breasts at frequent intervals as outlined in the above steps.
Breast compression may be underrated but it is an incredibly effective technique to ensure your baby is fed well through the breastfeeding sessions. By gently squeezing during breastfeeding, not only is the baby fed for a long time but it also ensures that the milk supply is increased since the breasts are being emptied more thoroughly.
Also Read: Essential Tips for Breastfeeding Read more
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When Your Baby Refuses to Sleep in the Crib
Your little one is the apple of your eye and gives you ultimate joy in life. However your baby can keep you on your toes all the time leaving you drained out and completely exhausted. All you would want is that your little one cuddles nicely and settles down in the crib. To your surprise, the naughty fellow might throw up a lot of tantrums. The tantrum is to refuse sleeping in the crib. Imagine the moment when you just lay your baby in the crib and ensure all the comfort but what follows is the baby’s “waaaaaa…waaaaaa”!
Why Does Your Baby’s Refuse The Crib?
Your little one’s refusal will surely have some hidden reasons. Researchers have found a few. Here are some of the reasons why your baby may be throwing tantrums:
1. Fear
The fear of the new space can really take your little one down. It is plainly because your baby is not used to it. In the initial months, your baby has got used to sleeping beside you. During that time the little one developed a sense of comfort around you and any change in it can make your baby difficult to adapt. The reaction is quite natural.
2. Training Gap
Your bundle of joy will need training in every basic thing of life. Yes, the baby requires training to sleep too! Falling asleep has to be taught and its ignorance can be a major reason behind the above discomfort.
3. YOU Can be The Reason
Your fear can add to the baby’s refusal. How? Here’s the answer: You would often miss your baby by your side. This will make you keep a constant check on your baby in the crib. The constant check would definitely be in the form of touch, which might disturb your baby. The little one may take it as the space fault and hence the refusal to sleep in the crib alone.
Tricks to Get Your Baby to Sleep in The Crib
So, what can be done to turn the hatred into love? The following hacks might help:
1. Be Creative
Switch on your creative side. Make the crib attractive and let the little one be amazed. Drop some favorite toys and colour the surroundings with something fascinating. The glitter and glamour may bind your bundle of joy to the crib for a long time.
2. Confusion
Let your baby doze in your arms or in the swing. Soon after, transfer your baby to the crib ensuring the same level of comfort. If possible, the same looking blanket and pillows around. Your little one will have no idea about the size of the place. It is like confusing the little one for fun!
3. Fill The Space
A bigger space in the crib can often scare your little one. A broken sleep might send out a flare of worry and can be serious. Nothing much to worry. Here’s the solution: Fill the empty space with something really creative. How about a cool baby gym? Or, a cute teddy?
Your bundle of joy is a power pack of surprises. Take time to find out more about his behaviour and we bet you’ll crack the solution very soon! Read more
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First Response to Help Your Child Cope with Trauma
Life throws up many experiences. Some experiences and events are happy; others sad and then again some are shocking and traumatic. Trauma is an unexpected, sudden event that leaves one in shock. Children too are bound to experience trauma in some form or the other. A child’s age, personality, family support and prior exposure to trauma determine how a child ends up coping with trauma.
When faced with a child who has experienced trauma, remember that no two children react to a traumatic event in the same way. In this situation, it's imperative that you help your child with a suitable first response. But in order to do this, you must be able to spot the signs of trauma.
Signs of trauma
Irritation, sadness, anger, guilt or shame
A state of confusion or worry
Self blame
Clingy
Shunning other people
Disobedience
Flouting rules
Some children may also experience stomach aches or headaches. Others might be unable to do simple tasks like going to the toilet or dressing up on their own. If you see that your child has fever, is sweating profusely, has a rapid pulse, is dizzy or is unable to respond to you, then call an ambulance, or rush to the emergency room of the nearest hospital -it is imperative that you seek medical care at once.
First response
Your first response helps your child to cope after a traumatic event:
Check for signs of shock, injury or illness
Do not hesitate to seek medical attention if required.
Warmth, comforting hugs and words help. Keep saying, “It's going to be alright” or the equivalent.
Don’t be alarmed if your child refuses to eat or drink immediately after a traumatic event. A smaller appetite or lack of it in this situation is normal.
A safe and secure place for your child to read, play or draw under supervision is the next thing to look for.
If possible try to find a space that is away from reminders of the event.
Listen to your child. Do not stifle him if he wants to speak. Be a good listener.
Give your child his favorite toy or blanket. Just anything familiar and comforting to hold on to.
Encourage your child to spend time with other people like family and friends. This will help restore normalcy and help him realize others are around for support.
Spending time talking about the event in a calm manner will help your child cope better. If you can talk about a stressful event calmly some semblance of normalcy will be restored for your child.
Allow your child to care for other people such as siblings and friends. Keep him away from media as much as you can.
If required let your child talk to a counselor.
Finally, remember each child is different. Do not rush your child when he is coping with trauma. A lot of patience, warmth and understanding on your part will help your child. Your first response is critical and most likely the determining factor of how your child will cope with trauma in future. Most children are understandably very upset when faced with trauma but the good news is that most of them recover and are able to get on with their lives. Read more
Sunita Mahato has added a new answer
Mom of a 1 m old child
7 hours ago
Q. #asktheexperts How to increase quantity of milk production?
Sunita Mahato
Mom of 3 children
7 hours ago
A. to increase milk take latction supplement as lactare...
take green papaya bottle gourd bitter gourd fennel seeds garlic oats ragi dalia sabudana ...
regular pumping increase milk use Babyhug electric breast pump...
Dr Ghouse has added a new answer
Expecting Mom due in 4 months
7 hours ago
Q. hi doctor from two days i am eating milk cream with sugar and i want to burn it in my stomach I am 5 month pregnant plzz help ??
Dr Ghouse
Paediatrician
6 hours ago
A. at present weight no exercise is other than moderate walking. if there is no relief it is better you see your doctor for proper examination particularly physical examination if there is need for doing investigations to find out the problem and treatment ok
Dr Ghouse has added a new answer
Guardian of 0 children
7 hours ago
Q. I am in my 8th month of pregnancy (last week), and for some reason I am continously facing lot of fatigue. I am feeling deprived of energy and I don't have any energy to do anything. resting isn't Helping in any way and taking small walks isn't too. what can be the possible reason and how to overcome this.
Read moreDr Ghouse
Paediatrician
6 hours ago
A. yes that can be both physical and psychological problems during pregnancy ok. if there is no relief it is better you see your doctor for proper examination particularly physical examination if there is need for doing investigations to find out the problem and treatment ok
Sai Prasanthi R L has added a new answer
Trying To Conceive
5 hours ago
Q. hi,
pls advice , after hcg tigger injection can we do intercourse to conceive and till when we can do ...trying to conceive
Sai Prasanthi R L
Mom of a 10 yr 2 m old boy
5 hours ago
A. Hello dear! We understand your eagerness and concern. It is advisable to check with your consulting doctor regarding this matter. Clarify your concerns and follow your doctor’s advice. Maintain a good personal hygiene routine and a healthy lifestyle
Charul Verma has added a new answer
Mom of a 1 yr 7 m old child
3 hours ago
Q. Hello my baby is 20 months old he swallowed a earpod bur he is normal he eat as well as drink please suggest???
Charul Verma
Nutritionist
2 hours ago
A. hi mom
mostly it will be out once he passes stool
but better to show to doctor
it can be checked in x ray if required
Rashmi has added a new answer
Mom of a 1 yr 7 m old child
3 hours ago
Q. Hello my baby is 20 months old by mistake he swallowed a earpod but he is normal is eat drink plz suggest??
Rashmi
Mom of a 9 yr 7 m old girl
3 hours ago
A. It’s fine it should come out into the poop of your child within 24 to 48 hours a lot of mishaps happened with kids these days but these things since they are not edible they do not get digested which is why they come out into the motion
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Nivedhika
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