Complications of Premature Babies: Hypothermia, Hypoxia and Hypoglycemia
Added on 2023-06-07
9 Pages2425 Words352 Views
Disease and Disorders
|
|
|
Complications of Premature Babies
Name:
Institution:
Date:
Running Head: COMPLICATIONS OF PREMATURE BABIES Page 1 of
8
Name:
Institution:
Date:
Running Head: COMPLICATIONS OF PREMATURE BABIES Page 1 of
8
Complications of Premature Babies
Despite global efforts to reduce the number of babies born prematurely, the rates are still
as high as 15 million preterm newborns annually (World Health Organization, 2018). These
babies are at risk of developing hypoxia, hypothermia and hypoglycaemia which are
interconnected into a triangle of complications. The World Health Organization (2018) has
estimated that about 1 million newborns die annually from the complications of prematurity.
Those who survive are at risk of permanent brain injury and physical disability. It is therefore
essential for midwives to closely monitor these babies during their stay in the Special Care
Nursery. The family too should be incorporated into the care of the baby.
The temperatures in the womb are well-regulated to match the mother’s internal body
temperature. Therefore, in utero, the fetus enjoys a warm environment as it bathes in amniotic
fluid. During delivery, there is a sudden drop in the temperature of the baby as it enters into a
new environment. In premature babies, about 0.5 to 1 degrees Celsius is lost for every minute of
exposure (Manani et al., 2013). When the body temperature drops too low, the baby develops
hypothermia. At this point, a roller-coaster sets in that involves the 3Hs that are most dreaded
among premature newborns: hypothermia, hypoxemia and hypoglycaemia. These three
conditions are interconnected to form a triangle of complications.
Premature babies are unable to generate adequate amounts of heat since their
thermoregulatory mechanisms such as shivering reflex have not yet fully developed by the time
they are born. They also lose a lot of heat to their new environment through radiation,
conduction, convection and evaporation mechanisms. Babies born prematurely lose more heat
compared to their mature counterparts since they have little subcutaneous fat, underdeveloped
skin and a large surface area to body weight ratio. Mank et al (2016), found that up to 93% of
COMPLICATIONS OF PREMATURE BABIES Page 2 of 8
Despite global efforts to reduce the number of babies born prematurely, the rates are still
as high as 15 million preterm newborns annually (World Health Organization, 2018). These
babies are at risk of developing hypoxia, hypothermia and hypoglycaemia which are
interconnected into a triangle of complications. The World Health Organization (2018) has
estimated that about 1 million newborns die annually from the complications of prematurity.
Those who survive are at risk of permanent brain injury and physical disability. It is therefore
essential for midwives to closely monitor these babies during their stay in the Special Care
Nursery. The family too should be incorporated into the care of the baby.
The temperatures in the womb are well-regulated to match the mother’s internal body
temperature. Therefore, in utero, the fetus enjoys a warm environment as it bathes in amniotic
fluid. During delivery, there is a sudden drop in the temperature of the baby as it enters into a
new environment. In premature babies, about 0.5 to 1 degrees Celsius is lost for every minute of
exposure (Manani et al., 2013). When the body temperature drops too low, the baby develops
hypothermia. At this point, a roller-coaster sets in that involves the 3Hs that are most dreaded
among premature newborns: hypothermia, hypoxemia and hypoglycaemia. These three
conditions are interconnected to form a triangle of complications.
Premature babies are unable to generate adequate amounts of heat since their
thermoregulatory mechanisms such as shivering reflex have not yet fully developed by the time
they are born. They also lose a lot of heat to their new environment through radiation,
conduction, convection and evaporation mechanisms. Babies born prematurely lose more heat
compared to their mature counterparts since they have little subcutaneous fat, underdeveloped
skin and a large surface area to body weight ratio. Mank et al (2016), found that up to 93% of
COMPLICATIONS OF PREMATURE BABIES Page 2 of 8
preterm babies suffer from hypothermia within the first three hours after being brought into the
intensive care unit. Premature newborns with hypothermia present with a weak cry, shortness of
breath, skin discoloration, and poor feeding.
As a response mechanism to hypothermia, the body’s sympathetic nervous system causes
peripheral vasoconstriction. Blood flow is therefore restricted and less oxygen is supplied to
tissues, resulting into hypoxia. The amount of lung surfactant in preterm babies is ten times less
than in term newborns (Pacifici, 2015). Their lungs are therefore unable to effectively expand
and relax during gaseous exchange. These babies typically present with respiratory distress
syndrome which is characterized by shortness of breath, apnea, cyanosis and fatigue. As their
body’s temperature decreases, their brain is affected. Subsequently, the respiratory center located
on the brainstem reduces the rate of inspiration and expiration. This further decreases ventilation
and the cells are unable to meet their oxygen demand. Metabolic activities such as respiration are
therefore undermined (Pacifici, 2015).
The human body generates glucose through respiration. Therefore, when the rate of
respiration decreases in a premature infant with hypoxia, the amount of sugar in their body also
decreases. Since these babies do not feed well, their glucose levels are further depleted. They
also have little stores of glycogen (Sharma, Davis and Shekhawat, 2017). Their sugar levels can
therefore drop to very low levels and result into hypoglycaemia. Their bodies try to release
hormones to counter the effects of hypoglycemia by increasing gluconeogenesis, but in the long
run, the carbohydrate, protein and fat stores also are depleted. Hypoglycaemic babies present
with lethargy, convulsions, an increased heart rate and shortness of breath (Sharma, Davis and
Shekhawat, 2017).
COMPLICATIONS OF PREMATURE BABIES Page 3 of 8
intensive care unit. Premature newborns with hypothermia present with a weak cry, shortness of
breath, skin discoloration, and poor feeding.
As a response mechanism to hypothermia, the body’s sympathetic nervous system causes
peripheral vasoconstriction. Blood flow is therefore restricted and less oxygen is supplied to
tissues, resulting into hypoxia. The amount of lung surfactant in preterm babies is ten times less
than in term newborns (Pacifici, 2015). Their lungs are therefore unable to effectively expand
and relax during gaseous exchange. These babies typically present with respiratory distress
syndrome which is characterized by shortness of breath, apnea, cyanosis and fatigue. As their
body’s temperature decreases, their brain is affected. Subsequently, the respiratory center located
on the brainstem reduces the rate of inspiration and expiration. This further decreases ventilation
and the cells are unable to meet their oxygen demand. Metabolic activities such as respiration are
therefore undermined (Pacifici, 2015).
The human body generates glucose through respiration. Therefore, when the rate of
respiration decreases in a premature infant with hypoxia, the amount of sugar in their body also
decreases. Since these babies do not feed well, their glucose levels are further depleted. They
also have little stores of glycogen (Sharma, Davis and Shekhawat, 2017). Their sugar levels can
therefore drop to very low levels and result into hypoglycaemia. Their bodies try to release
hormones to counter the effects of hypoglycemia by increasing gluconeogenesis, but in the long
run, the carbohydrate, protein and fat stores also are depleted. Hypoglycaemic babies present
with lethargy, convulsions, an increased heart rate and shortness of breath (Sharma, Davis and
Shekhawat, 2017).
COMPLICATIONS OF PREMATURE BABIES Page 3 of 8
End of preview
Want to access all the pages? Upload your documents or become a member.