All articles tagged with #neonatal care
Becca and Lavareis Bryant's quadruplets, born at just over 23 weeks, set a world record for the most premature quadruplets to survive, highlighting the advanced neonatal care at UAB Hospital and the family's resilience.
Breast milk is considered "Liquid Gold" and provides complete nutrition for infants in the first 6 months, meeting their calorie, protein, and fat needs. Exclusive breastfeeding is recommended by the World Health Organization until 6 months of age, with no need for water during this period. Proper nutrition in the first 6 months is crucial for a child's long-term health, and breastfeeding mothers should focus on a balanced diet, adequate fluid intake, and avoiding certain foods and substances. While efforts to replicate breast milk's benefits continue, its unique composition remains unmatched, making it the gold standard for infant nutrition.
A woman in France visited the emergency room with stomach pain and was shocked to discover she had an abdominal pregnancy, a rare type of ectopic pregnancy where the fetus grows outside the uterus. The woman underwent surgery at 29 weeks of gestation to deliver the baby, who was then cared for in a neonatal intensive care unit. The mother and baby were discharged after successful recovery. Abdominal pregnancies are extremely rare and pose a higher risk to maternal health compared to tubal ectopic pregnancies.
Independent advisers to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are meeting to discuss the regulations, ethics, and possibilities of creating an artificial womb to increase the chances of survival for extremely premature babies without long-term health problems. Preterm births are the leading cause of death for children under the age of 5, and premature babies face a lifetime of health issues. An artificial womb could help a small number of infants born before 28 weeks of pregnancy, delivering oxygen, nutrients, and hormones to aid in their development. The FDA will consider data from animal trials and discuss regulations, ethics, and clinical considerations before potentially approving human trials.
A study conducted in Sweden involving 178 extremely preterm babies found that those given a combination of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acid supplements showed improved visual function by age two and a half. The supplement not only reduced the risk of a sight-threatening eye disease but also appeared to enhance the brain's ability to interpret visual stimuli. These findings could influence new guidelines for neonatal care regarding the administration of fatty acid supplements to extremely preterm babies.
A UK woman, Lucy Shaw, 34, who believed she had the stomach flu, unexpectedly gave birth to twin boys at 30 weeks gestation. Shaw had a cryptic pregnancy, which can occur due to various factors such as hidden baby bump, lack of pregnancy symptoms, hormonal issues, contraceptive failure, or false negative tests. The twins, Jacob and Jaxon James, weighed 3 pounds, 9 ounces and 3 pounds, 8 ounces respectively, and are currently recovering in the neonatal unit. Despite initial challenges, they are expected to go home soon with minimal special care. Cryptic pregnancies are more common than thought, as seen in previous cases.