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This resource centre has been organized to follow the natural course of the journey of a premature baby. It includes information
about the causes of prematurity, the challenges of premature birth, the development of the baby, and the long-term implication
of prematurity. The material in this resource centre has been written in collaboration with neonatologists, nurse practitioners,
neonatal nurses, respiratory therapists, dietitians, lactation consultants, psychologists, paediatricians, occupational therapists
and other health care staff affiliated with The Hospital for Sick Children.
This section provides information about the causes of prematurity and the challenges premature babies typically face immediately
following birth. These include problems with breathing, feeding, and other conditions. It also describes the neonatal intensive
care unit (NICU) which is often a premature baby's first destination following birth.
This section describes the different ways in which doctors and other health care professionals diagnose the condition of a
premature newborn baby. While many premature babies do not have major problems, others do. Diagnosis may require several steps
before a concise conclusion can be made about the condition of a premature baby. Diagnosis is also the first step in treatment.
Following diagnosis, if problems have been identified, treatments may begin. This section describes how the most common conditions
premature babies face are treated. These pages also describe how the environment of the NICU is, in a way, a treatment in
and of itself. By attempting to recreate the conditions in the womb, a premature baby is given time to mature in the outside
world, which may be all the treatment a premature baby needs. Other treatments, such as surgery and drug therapy are described.
This section describes what parents need to know when they bring their premature baby home from the hospital. Routine medical
concerns, which all babies encounter, are discussed as are typical problems associated with prematurity.
Premature birth may have implications beyond infancy and into childhood. Some premature babies will have lifelong conditions
that will impact the rest of their lives. Sometimes, these conditions are physical in nature, other times psychological or
intellectual. This section describes what parents should look out for and explains what to do if problems arise. Special attention
is paid to school and pre-school years.
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Parents’ participation in a baby’s care, even in the smallest ways, encourages bonding between parent and child, and is beneficial
to the baby’s health. Learn more about how parents can be involved.
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Many premature babies have trouble breathing on their own because their lungs are not fully developed. Learn more about a
substance called surfactant that can help some premature babies breathe.
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The NICU can be a daunting place, full of complicated equipment. Learn more about what this equipment does in this interactive
module.
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