Prematurity is an immature stat

Prematurity is an immature state, which is found in infants born at gestational age 37 weeks has not been reached.Prematurity (especially extreme prematurity) is the main cause of the abnormalities and death in newborns. Some organs in the baby may not be fully developed so that infants at high risk for certain diseases.
CAUSE
The causes of premature births is usually unknown.15% of preterm births was found in a multiple pregnancy (in the womb there is more than one fetus).

Risk factors that may play a role in preterm labor are:
- Pregnancy younger age (maternal age less than 18 years)
- Irregular prenatal care
- Lower socio-economic group
- The state of nutrition is less
- Abuse of the drug.

Problems in the mother is usually in the form:
- History of preterm labor in previous pregnancies
- High levels of alpha-fetoprotein in the second trimester of unknown cause
- Illness or untreated infection (eg urinary tract infection or infection of the amniotic membranes)
- Abnormalities of the uterus or cervix
- Prematurely ruptured amniotic sac
- Placenta previa.
- Pre-eclampsia (a condition that can occur in the second trimester of pregnancy, characterized by high blood pressure, presence of protein in the urine and swelling of the limbs)
- Diabetes mellitus
- Heart disease.

SYMPTOMS
# Physical description of premature infants: the small size
# Low birth weight (less than 2.5 kg)
# Her skin is thin, light and colored pink (translucent)
# Visible veins under the skin (skin is transparent)
# Fat under his skin a little so that her skin looks wrinkled
# The hair is rarely
# The ear is thin and soft
# Crying weakly
# The head is relatively large
# Breast tissue has not been developed
# Muscle weakness and little physical activity (a premature baby tend to not have a line of hand or foot as in term infants)
# Reflex and poor swallow reflex
# Respiration irregular
# Pockets and pleats slightly smaller testes (male child - male)
Labia majora not yet covering # labia minora (in girls).

COMPLICATIONS
1. Respiratory distress syndrome (hyaline membrane disease).
Mature lung is essential for the newborn. To be able to breathe freely, when it was born the air sacs (alveoli) should be filled with air and keep it open. Alveoli can be opened wide because of a substance called surfactant, which is produced by the lungs and the surface tension lowering function.
Premature babies often do not produce surfactant in sufficient numbers, so alveolinya not remain open. Among the moments of breathing, lung completely collapsed, resulting in respiratory distress syndrome.
This syndrome can cause other disorders and in some cases can be fatal. Administered oxygen to the baby, if severe illness, they may need to be placed in a ventilator and given drugs surfactant (can drip directly through a tracheal tube connected to the baby).
2. Immaturity of the central nervous system can cause problems sucking or swallowing reflexes, susceptible to the occurrence of brain hemorrhage or apneu attack.
In addition to the lungs have not developed, premature babies also have an underdeveloped brain. This can cause apneu (stopping breathing), because the respiratory center in the brain may not yet ripe. To reduce can reduce the frequency of attacks apneu used drugs.
If the oxygen and blood flow uninterrupted. immature brain is highly susceptible to bleeding (hemorrhage intraventrikuler). or injury.
3. Immaturity of the digestive system causing feeding intolerance.
At first, the small size of the stomach may limit the amount of food / fluids given, thus giving too much milk a baby can cause vomiting.
At first, the small size of the stomach may limit the amount of food / fluids given, thus giving too much milk a baby can cause vomiting.
4. Retinopathy and visual impairment or blindness (fibroplasia Retrolental)
5. Bronchopulmonary dysplasia.
6. Heart disease.
7. Jaundice.
After birth, babies need liver function and normal bowel function to get rid of bilirubin (a yellow pigment of red blood cell breakdown products) in the stool. Many newborns, especially those born prematurely, have increased blood levels of bilirubin (which is temporary), which can cause jaundice (jaundice).
This increase occurred because of his heart function is still immature and therefore the ability to eat and the ability to digest it is still not perfect. Jaundice is mostly mild and will disappear along with the improvement of the baby's digestive function.
8. Infection or septicemia.
The immune system in preterm infants has not been fully developed. They have not received the full complement of antibodies from the mother through the placenta (afterbirth).
The risk of serious infection (sepsis) in premature infants is higher. Premature babies are also more susceptible to nekrotisasi enterocolitis (inflammation of the intestine).
9. Anemia.
10. Premature babies tend to have blood sugar swings, can be high (hyperglycemia and low (hypoglycemia).
11. Development and slow growth.
12. Mental and motor retardation.


Diagnosis
Diagnosis based on physical descriptions and gestational age. The usual examination in premature infants:
- Chest x-rays to see the maturity of the lungs
- Blood gas analysis
- Blood sugar levels
- Blood calcium levels
- Levels of bilirubin.

TREATMENT
If premature birth is likely to occur, are usually given tocolytic medication to stop contractions and corticosteroids to accelerate the maturation of the baby's lungs. Food is given through a tube inserted into the baby's stomach because the function of sucking and swallowing in premature infants is still immature. At the extreme premature, given food melakui infusion. At about 34 weeks of age, babies fed breast milk or milk from a bottle. Premature infants lose heat very quickly and have difficulty in maintaining body temperature, so they are usually placed in an incubator. Baby may need the help of a respirator and supplemental oxygen.

PREVENTION
One of the most important steps in preventing prematurity is to start doing prenatal care as early as possible and continue to perform during pregnancy.
Statistics show that early prenatal care and better able to reduce the incidence of prematurity, small for morbidity due to pregnancy and childbirth and the newborn period.