Sometimes the baby will vomit, and it may feed poorly, be lethargic, have a distended abdomen, and have blood in the stool. Upon physical examination, abdominal tenderness may be seen in the baby and periumbilical darkening or redness is sometimes also seen. Occasionally, there is a fixed loop of bowel that can be felt when the abdomen is examined. Generally, if NEC is suspected an abdominal x-ray is done. This x-ray will show individuals whether there are distended or fixed loops of bowel that could possibly indicate some type of obstruction. Having air in the wall of the bowel can also be seen very early on in NEC but often resolves over a period of hours. Having air in the abdomen, however, is indicative of immediate surgery. If there is air anywhere in the abdomen this indicates that the bowel has torn or perforated and this is a life-threatening emergency, especially in a tiny premature infant. If the bowel is not torn and surgery is not necessary, it can be managed medically. Feedings will be stopped and a nasogastric tube will be placed in order to suck up the contents...
Neonates With Necrotizing Enterocolitis Introductory Statement I would like to write about preterm infants with necrotizing enterocolitis and breastfeeding, whether it is beneficial to the infant to breastfeed. I became interested in the topic after a clinical experience in the NICU. One infant in the NICU was having difficulty keeping formula down. The neonate gastric pH was being monitored for GER. When the NICU nurse also spoke of assessing for signs of
Other Medical Issues While neurological issues delays are primarily responsible for the functional developmental delays in children other complications can also affect the development of a preterm child. These problems include: cardiovascular complications; respiratory problems such as respiratory distress syndrome or chronic lung disease; a number of severe metabolic and gastrointestinal problems that can result in delayed growth and other problems; immune system problems, such as susceptibility to infections or diseases
496). Evidence-based practice indicates the universal need for the implementation of better maternal and newborn infant care, especially with regard to breastfeeding support and encouragement. This is evidenced by countless research works that both report the optimized goals of better rates of exclusive breastfeeding among infants 0-6 months and the evidence of current trends and practices (AAP, 2010; Scanlon et. al, 2007; Naylor, 2010; Grummer-Strawn & Shealy 2009). These researchers,
Maternity Nursing, Labor & Delivery / Newborn Labor and Delivery Terms Para: Para refers to the number of live births a woman has had (it might be a stillbirth, or twins, or even triplets) past the 20-week gestation period (Zimmerman, p. 116). Gravida: this refers to the number of times a woman has been pregnant, whether she actually gave birth, had an abortion or a stillbirth (Zimmerman, p. 116). Amniotic Sac: this is a
Introduction Despite major medical advancements over several decades, nearly 10 percent of births in the US continue to occur prematurely each year (Martin, Hamilton, Osterman, Driscoll, & Matthews, 2017). Creating a significant socioeconomic burden, preterm birth is one of the leading causes of infant morbidity and mortality in the United States resulting in approximately $16.9 billion in medical care costs annually (Institute of Medicine [IOM], 2007). After days, weeks, or even
In order to promote adequate milk production, pacifiers and supplementary liquids should be avoided for the first six months. An oversupply of milk can make feedings difficult for the mother and infant, and this should be remedied promptly. Offering only one breast per feeding and lengthening the feeding time can help, as can reducing milk volume before feedings by hand expressing. Breast engorgement can occur within the first few
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