Some complications a baby could have when having breathing problems Is Pneumonia. Pneumonia is an infection in the lungs. Babies can get pneumonia while in the womb and can be treated when born. Babies can catch pneumonia several weeks after being born as well. This is usually because they were on a ventilater being treated for respiratory problems. Babies with pneumonia will most likely need to be treated will oxygen or maybe even a breathing machine. Respiratory stress disorder is another complications while having breathing problems from being born premature. A baby developes RDS when the lungs do not produce sufficient amounts of surfactant. Surfactant is a substance that keeps the tiny air sacs in the lungs open. RDS is common in premature babies because the babies lungs usually do not begin producing surfactant until about 30 weeks of the pregnancy. These complications are caused by premature birth. Another short term complication is heart problems. “ The earlier the baby is born the greater the risk of bleeding in the brain”. “ Premature babies can lose body heat rapidly; they don’t have the stored body fat of a full-term infant and they can’t generate enough heat to counteract what’s lost through the surface of their body”. “ Preemies are at risk of …show more content…
The NICU is an intensive care unit for babies born either prematurely or have a condition where they will need special care. In the u.s nearly half a million babies are born preterm and many of these babies have low birth weights. Babies born with heart diseases, infections, etc will also be admitted into the NICU. Some factors that will make a baby high risk of being born early and admitted into the NICU are being born by someone younger than 16 and older than 40, Drug exposure, Diabetes, Hypertension, Bleeding, STD’s, Too little or too much amniotic fluid, and premature rupture of membranes ( also called the amniotic sac or bag of waters). There will be multiple people that will care for your baby while in the NICU. Some people that will care for your baby while in the NICU are, neonatoligist which is a peditrician that has additional training in how to care for sick babies, respiratory therapists, occupational therapists, dietations, lactation consultants, pharmacists, social workers, and hospital chaplains. The people of the NICU will work together with the parents to develop a plan of care for high risk newborns. (