So as of now my period have been late for 30 days. And I have had a negative pregnancy but I have had all pregnancy symptoms except constipation and my breast. Now today my sister told me sister your nose have the black line across it. Y'all I just want to know because this will be our true miracle baby we been trying for 4years
WeMoms
2 Apr 2024
Caring for Your Late Preterm Miracle
Navigating the Realm of Early Babies: Caring for Your Late Preterm Miracle 🍼
Understanding the Timings of Arrival 🕰️
In the realm of pregnancy, most journeys encompass around 40 weeks. Babies born between the 37th and 42nd week are typically classified as “full term”.
But what about those who make their debut between the 34th and 36th week?
They are affectionately known as “late preterm” babies. While these little ones may appear and behave like their full-term counterparts, it's important to remember that they aren't fully mature and might encounter some challenges along the way. Let’s delve into why these early arrivals need that extra special care and attention.
Developmental Milestones: Brain and Beyond 🧠
Around the 35th to 37th week of your pregnancy, your baby’s brain is only 75 to 80% developed and requires more growth. This might manifest in difficulties with coordinating sucking, swallowing, and breathing. Regulating body temperature can also pose a challenge.
Responses to stimuli like people, noises, and activities might not be as refined as in full-term babies, and excessive stimulation can stress your little one.
Surprisingly, routine actions like talking, rocking, or exposure to loud environments could trigger stress indicators like spreading their fingers into “a stop” position or covering their face with their hand. Increased crying and difficulties in soothing might also become apparent.
Given the ongoing brain development, these early arrivals might sleep more and exhibit lower alertness compared to their full-term counterparts.
The Air They Breathe: Lung Development 🌬️
Early arrivals often bring with them less developed lungs. Breathing patterns might be irregular, leaning towards being too rapid or too slow. It's crucial to provide your baby with a firm sleep surface devoid of blankets, pillows, comforters, or stuffed animals.
Always remember the golden rule: position your baby on their back to sleep to prevent Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).
Feeding and Vigilance: Nurturing Nutrition 🍼
In the final weeks of pregnancy, babies start accumulating fat stores. However, early arrivals might have fewer fat reserves. This emphasizes the importance of feeding every three hours to ensure a steady energy source. You might need to actively wake them and keep them engaged during feeding sessions. Adequate feeding not only bolsters fat storage but also aids in brain development.
Late preterm babies tend to be quite sleepy. Wake them for feeding every three hours if they don’t wake up naturally. Seek guidance from the hospital, public health nurses, or your midwife to ensure effective feeding and maintaining alertness. Your doctor will provide instructions on when you can allow your baby to sleep beyond the three-hour interval.
For breastfeeding mothers, consider pumping or hand expressing milk after each feeding session to boost breast milk supply. The more milk extracted, the more your body will produce. This expressed breast milk can be fed back to your baby. If you're formula feeding, choose a formula enriched with iron and omega-3.
Balancing Blood Sugar and Temperature 🔥❄️
With limited fat reserves, maintaining normal blood sugar levels can be challenging for early arrivals. Regular feeding sessions can help regulate blood sugar.
Due to less body fat and an underdeveloped brain, maintaining a consistent body temperature can be an uphill task for late preterm babies. Keep your baby’s temperature between 36.3ºC and 37.5ºC by placing them on your bare chest (skin-to-skin) with a blanket for added warmth. Shield your baby from drafts and consider dressing them in one more layer than you're wearing.
The Fight Against Jaundice and Immunity 🌼
Early arrivals often possess less mature livers, making them more prone to jaundice compared to full-term babies. Jaundice, if left untreated, can lead to serious brain issues. Keep an eye out for signs like yellowing of the skin, eyes, sleepiness, and poor feeding. Seek medical attention if these symptoms appear.
The immune system, crucial for warding off infections, experiences a unique challenge for early arrivals. Proteins that contribute to immunity are passed from mother to baby during the last weeks of pregnancy. Late preterm babies might be born before this immunity boost. Breastfeeding becomes an invaluable ally, aiding in immune development. Strive to provide as much breast milk as possible.
Soothing Skin-to-Skin Contact 🤱
Engaging in skin-to-skin contact, where you hold your baby against your bare skin, offers myriad benefits. It regulates your baby's temperature, oxygen levels, heart rate, and breathing rate. Skin-to-skin contact often leads to reduced crying and enhanced milk production for breastfeeding mothers. However, remember to stay awake during these sessions to ensure your baby's safety.
Seeking Support and Watchful Vigilance 🚨
The journey with a late preterm baby involves attentiveness and care. If you ever feel your baby requires emergency care, dial 911. Be vigilant about the signs that indicate potential concerns, such as abnormal temperatures, jaundice, sleepiness, feeding difficulties, or unusual behavior. Keep your healthcare provider in the loop and follow their guidance closely. Your baby's health and well-being are paramount.
As you embrace this unique path, remember that early arrivals are resilient miracles. Your unwavering care and the support of healthcare professionals will nurture them into thriving individuals. 🌈👶
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Mariah
4 Mar 2023
Took this 2 days before my period was due because I was constantly cramping and now I’m 2 days late I can’t believe I’m finally pregnant with my miracle baby 🤰🏽🌈we been trying for years for a baby and God has finally blessed us I’m praying for a healthy baby
Jessica
Congratulations love 🙏🏼
27 Mar 2024
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Mariah
Thank you luv 💕
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Tracey
19 Nov 2022
My Flo app says I'm 1 day late and my pre mom app says I'm 4 days late so hopefully this will be a miracle as I been trying almost a year now
☺️💜💜Stephanie💜💜
Have you tested
27 Mar 2024
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Tracey
Not yet but I'm going to today
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