Today we have learned that after three months of being admitted to the ICU, the twins of Pablo Iglesias and Irene Montero, born prematurely with six months of gestation, They have finally been discharged and can take them home.
We want to put ourselves in their skin and in the skin of all parents who have passed or will go through this situation and help them to be somewhat more prepared for the day they go home with their baby in their arms (or with their babies, as in this case).
When is a premature baby discharged?
And finally the day comes when doctors consider that your baby's medical condition is stable and that it can continue to develop outside the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.
Generally, this moment usually coincides more or less with the date on which it should be born (although there may be a difference of about 2-3 weeks), and it happens when three conditions exist:
The baby is able to feed itself by mouth: that is, you can take the bottle or breast shots without needing a feeding tube.
It is proven that you eat well and gain weight.
You can regulate your body temperature outside the incubator for a minimum of 24-48 hours.
In Babies and more When your baby is born premature and nothing is as you expectedThe day you've dreamed so much about
Since a couple finds out that she will have a child, she dreams of leaving the hospital with her newborn baby and taking it home. But the plans get twisted when your baby is born premature and nothing is as you expected.
After delivery you go home with empty arms and your baby is admitted. The hospital becomes your second home, you spend more hours there than in your own home; They are days, weeks, months in some cases.
In a way you have become accustomed to the ICU routine, the place where your baby has remained since she was born and that has given you security. It is your little shelter, the only thing your little fighter has known: the incubator, the cables, the noises of the ICU, the nurses, the medical tests ...
Until "the" day arrives (with capital letters) that your baby really goes out into the world. The time of hospital discharge It's a happy day, the one you've dreamed so much about, but hundreds of fears and doubts invade you. It's you and your baby, nobody else. He has been under care for months, supervised, controlled 24 hours, every minute of the day, and now the responsibility for his care is all yours. You will be alone for the first time and it is normal that you feel overwhelmed by the new situation.
Medical care after discharge
If a newborn baby requires certain basic care, in the case of premature babies, the care they face is more specialized.
In some cases, babies born before term may have apnea episodes, short pauses while breathing, due to the immaturity of their respiratory system. It is only sent home if the baby is barely mild and with a monitor to control it, in addition to teaching parents cardiopulmonary resuscitation maneuvers in infants.
Food is also very important. You must feed properly to gain weight, but not in excess because your digestive system does not have the maturity of a full-term baby. You are usually discharged with a specific meal plan to follow. In addition to the patience you have to have because they eat slower, whether you drink breast milk or a bottle, since it is more difficult for them to control the suction, the function of swallowing and breathing at the same time.
Protecting them against infections is another special care that must be taken with all babies, and even more with premature babies with a weaker immune system. In that sense, in addition to the basic protection and hygiene measures, breast milk is very important as a protective shield against infections and diseases in the newborn. This adapts its composition to the needs of the premature baby, giving it immunological protection, as well as benefiting the gastrointestinal and neurological development of the baby.
In Babies and more "Let's go children, let's go", the beautiful words of Pablo Iglesias to his premature twins that have moved usCalm down, you will do well
It is the best advice you can give to any first-time father, and even more to those who may feel insecure because their baby was born before term and is especially vulnerable.
It won't be easy, but everything will be fine. Take it easy and remember that your baby needs a lot of tranquility, so as much as everyone wants to meet you, you will have to control the visits and limit the departures during the first weeks.
Practice the kangaroo method or skin with skin as much as you can, both the mother and the father, since this will help to better regulate your body temperature and breathing, consult with the doctor any questions, and do not hesitate to ask for help. Your baby is a great fighter who has managed to get ahead and together you will do very well.
