...Many parents and doctors have a moral dilemma of choosing to give premature infants aggressive treatment to survive. The choice can be very difficult because the parents want them child to survive but at the same times they do not want their child to suffer. Many babies are born premature in the world when this happens there can be critical conditions that they can face. Doctors can attempt to treat theses defect with aggressive treatment but how much do the infant suffer is a major question. Both the parents and doctor must make the decision if the infant’s quality of life will be fulfilled after treatment. Many parents believe that withholding life-sustaining treatment will prevent their infant from suffering and living a life not...
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...Kick These Badfor-You Foods Out of Your Kitchen 5 Ways to Look Younger Right Now 8 Foods High in Magnesium 7 Tips to Help Put the Brakes on Premature Ejaculation 10 Foods to Boost Your Mood Brought to you by Everyday Health Health Effects of Smoking By Dennis Thompson, Jr. | Medically reviewed by Pat F. Bass III, MD, MPH You know smoking is bad for you, but do you know what this dangerous habit does to your body and to nonsmokers who inhale secondhand smoke? Cigarette smoking has disastrous consequences: It damages just about every organ of the body and leads to the general deterioration of the smoker's health. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that cigarette smoking is responsible for nearly one of every five deaths in the United States, or about 438,000 deaths every year. Cigarette smoking is deadlier on an annual basis than HIV/AIDS, motor vehicle crashes, drug abuse, alcoholism, suicide, and murder … combined. Smoking and Cancer Cancer was one of the first diseases that researchers linked to cigarette smoking, and it continues to be smoking's most notorious health effect. Cigarette smoking and tobacco use causes about onethird of all cancer deaths in the United States. Lung cancer is most closely linked to cigarette smoking. Smoking causes nearly all lung cancer deaths in America, about 90 percent of male deaths and 80 percent of female deaths. The chances that a male smoker will die of lung cancer is 23 times that of someone who's...
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...incredible strength of your tiny miracle….” The most common infant health issue in America is the birth of premature babies, which have many short term and long term effects on an infant and mother. Imagine awaiting one's little miracles, and having to experience the complications of a premature birth. A staggering 15 million babies are born premature each year around the world. Of that number, 1 million of those infants die due to complications. Premature birth is defined as “ a birth that takes place more than three weeks before the baby is due” (mayoclinicstaff). The normal gestational period for a full term pregnancy...
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...Theoretical Definition of Anxiety In the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) parents of premature and critically ill infants experience a great deal of emotion during the time their infant is in the NICU. Parents are thrust into the world of immaturity of bodily systems, disturbing alarm sounds, and unfamiliar words; like apnea and bradycardia. Anxious parents in the NICU are often described by nurses and the medical team as difficult or annoying because in our roles in the NICU we forget that this is a crisis for these parents and it is difficult for them to cope with the situation. Parents in the NICU often talk to the nurse about their feelings of anxiety in regards to the health of their infant and the NICU environment in general. Thousands of infants are born premature or critically ill on an annual basis which presents a challenge in the NICU to facilitate the bonding and attachment of parent and infant which can often cause parents a great deal of anxiety. Rationale for Selecting Concept Anxiety in the parents of a premature infant is evident every day in the NICU. I chose to define this concept to hopefully reveal interventions and therapies to help the parents of the infants that I care for cope with this uncomfortable emotion that is characterized by an “uneasiness of mind” and “fearful concern” (Frederick & Merriam-Webster, Inc, 2012). I was the primary nurse for a premature infant that was born at twenty-four weeks gestation. His mother was a perfect example...
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...Homemade incubator helps premature babies in slum From Isha Sesay, CNN January 17, 2011 Nairobi, Kenya (CNN) -- In her small clinic in Nairobi's Mathare slum, Alice Sibour has defied a shortage of medical equipment and come up with an inventive way to care for newborn babies. As a traditional birth attendant and herbalist, Sibour uses traditional medicines rather than modern drugs to look after mothers-to-be. Many local women, who have little money and limited access to healthcare, rely on her services. "They depend on us," says Sibour. "Sometimes some of them have no money at all, but they know that if they come to us, we'll assist them." In a country where around 55 out of every 1,000 infants die every year, Sibour decided to come up with her own solution to care for infants -- an incubator made from scratch. Using pillows, blankets and hot water, the bed provides the necessary warmth to help a premature baby develop. A pillow is used as the baby's mattress, and two small containers of hot water are placed underneath. A blanket is put over the baby, and the entire bed is covered with a mosquito net. "With time the baby will get warmer," says Sibour. "But the water should not be so hot that it could burn the child; it should just generate enough heat for the baby." Sibour began using her homemade incubator almost 20 years ago. "I got this idea when I visited a friend of mine who had something similar and I decided to make...
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...experience the complications of a premature birth. A staggering 15 million babies are born premature each year around the world. Of that number, 1 million of those infants die due to complications. Premature birth is defined as “ a birth that takes place more than three weeks before the baby is due” (mayoclinicstaff). The normal gestational period for a full term pregnancy is 40 weeks. Today “1 in 8 births are premature,” (“short-andlong-termchallengesofprematurity”) and it is the most common problem among infants in the United States and around the world. There are four stages of premature birth. The first stage known as late preterm is when a baby is born between 34 and 36 weeks. The second stage known as moderately preterm is when a baby is born between 32 and 34 weeks. The third stage known as very preterm is when a baby is born less than 32...
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...first born. Neonatal nursing has many education requirements, an outstanding job outlook, as well as great benefits. Neonatal nurses care for newborns for the first 28 days of the babies’ lives, the children’s most helpless stage. Nurses specialized in this field are required to focus not just on healthy infants, but also on ill or premature babies. They monitor the condition of babies, check for signs of distress, and manage medication when necessary. Neonatal nurses are also responsible for providing all kinds of basic care, like changing diapers and feeding babies. “A neonatal intensive care unit often caters to babies with complex medical needs. Invasive treatments like ventilation, repeated blood sampling, invasive catheters are common. Caring for very sick neonates is compounded by the uncertainty that surrounds the immediate outcomes (survival) and the long-term outcomes (disabilities, quality of life and the need for continual medical care including repeated hospitalizations)” (Lyons, Susan K). There are three different levels at which neonatal nurses work in. Level 1 consists of those who take care of healthy infants, while those in Level 2 care for ill or premature newborns. Neonatal nurses responsible for treating cruelly ill babies work at Level 3. They work in the...
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...According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, a total of 3,999,386 infants were born in the United States, and of these children 17.6% are born premature or with a low birthweight (Martin J. A., Hamilton B. E., Ventura S. J., Osterman, M. J., Wilson, E. C., Mathews, T. J.). The medical professionals that are placed in charge of such cases are called neonatologists, and I aspire to become one among the current 3,688 board-certified and board-eligible neonatologists in the United States. As with other medical professionals, these physicians are placed in the lives of their patients to improve their health and to utilize a series of diagnoses to treat their specific health deficits. Although the road through medical school, board exams, and residency is long and difficult—the resulting career is worth it. Previous to my research, I knew the basics about the career field of...
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...RSV Prophylaxis in Preterm Infants Betty Danford COMM/215 January 12, 2015 Yvonna Starr Carnieri RSV Prophylaxis in Preterm Infants Respiratory syncytial virus or RSV is a common infection in young children usually causing only mild cold and upper respiratory symptoms. Infants with chronic lung disease and premature infants are likely to have more serious effects, including re-hospitalization and respiratory assistance (Haelle, 2014). In July of 2014, the American Academy of Pediatrics issued updated guidelines to decrease RSV prophylaxis for preterm infants. I work in a neonatal intensive care unit and support the new guidelines that reduce the number of infants that qualify for RSV prophylaxis. RSV prophylaxis or Synagis is administered to qualifying infants prior to discharge from the neonatal intensive care unit and given monthly throughout RSV season. Previous guidelines included dosing any preterm infant 31.6 weeks gestation and below throughout the RSV fall and winter season. Infants born between 32 and 35 weeks gestation qualified for RSV prophylaxis based on risk factors of: living in a home with children or siblings five years of age or less and day care attendance. The updated guidelines in 2014 recommend RSV prophylaxis for all infants born before 29 and 0 days gestation. Infants born before 32 weeks qualify for RSV prophylaxis if they require > 21% oxygen for 28 consecutive days following birth. RSV prophylaxis remains relatively...
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...RESULTS: CHARACTERISTICS OF INFANTS: A total of 55 infants were included in this study. Among them 12 were born to mothers positive for both HBsAg and HBeAg. THE IMMUNIZATION OUTCOME OF INFANTS: Of the 55 infants, 3 were HBV infection positive at 6 months after birth. The rate of HBV infection was 5.4%, all the immunoprophylaxis failure infants were born to mothers positive for both HBsAg and HBeAg. Twenty infants (36.3%, 20/55) did not achieve a protective level of anti-HBs despite the three doses of HB vaccine and became non-responders. A total of 32 (58.1%) infants achieved anti-HBs and became responders. Of 32 responders, 5 (9%) were low responders, 20(36.3%) were medium responders, 7 (12.7%) were high responders. BASELINE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE INFANTS: CHARACTERISTICS | NO.(%) OF INFANTS(TOTAL=55) | SEX | | Female | 29(52.7%) | Male | 26(47.2%) | GESTATION WEEKS | | <37 weeks (Pre-term) | 5(9%) | 37-42 weeks (Term) | 50(90.9%) | >42 weeks (Post-Term) | 0 | BIRTH WEIGHT (g) | | 2500-3000 | 10(18.1%) | 3000-3500 | 38(69%) | 3500-4000 | 6(10.9%) | >4000 | 1(1.8%) | FACTORS CORRELATED WITH PROPHYLAXIS FAILURE : VARIABLES | FAILURE(n=3) | NON-FAILURE(n=52) | P VALUE | Demographic factors | | | | Sex(F:M) | 2:1 | 31:21 | | Education of the Mother | | | | -Literates | 1 | 34 | | -Illiterates | 2 | 18 | | Socio economic status | | | | -Class I | 1 | 1 | | -Class...
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...all. There are many factors that influence the development and social inequalities in a child’s life. These include biological, family and social factors, parenting factors, attachment, and the way non-maternal care is influenced. All of these are risk factors that are likely to have a bearing on the child’s social inequalities on their health. The biological factors include premature birth, low birth weight, and a serious medical illness. The significantly influence and infants growth. “Low birth weight, less than 2500 grams, has a prevalence of 6 percent in white middle-class U.S. women, and 15 percent in ethnic minority teenagers. These teenagers tend to be single mothers.” At the Infant Health and Development Project, they found that in a large amount of premature infants, that their IQ was less than 85 at three years of age. Race was the greatest factor in predicting outcome, that was followed by maternal education, and then medical complications. The infants of poorly educated African American mothers (90%) who had medical complications were severely compromised, while only nine percent of white infants with well-educated parents fell into this category,...
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...Meghan Walker ENG 130 Kathryn Geranios July 9,2015 Breast-Milk VS Formula Some mothers breastfeed their babies, and others use powder or liquid based formula. Is one option better or more importantly healthier than the other? I feel that breast milk is more beneficial for babies and new mothers. It promotes brain developments, strengthens the babies immune system, and reduces the risk of SIDS. What is the difference between breastmilk and formula? Breast milk is recommended by pediatricians and the WHO "world health organization". All infants are suggested to be bottle feed until they are 12 months before introducing them to whole milk. Milk is an infant’s primary source of nutrients until they are 12 months of age. In that 12 months, the benefits of breastmilk can last a lifetime. The benefits of Brest feeding can sometimes sound endless. Breastfeeding is convenient, moms don't have to make bottles they are the bottles! Breastfeeding is free, and it contains all the nutrients that the baby needs. Breast milk is packed with disease-fighting substances that protects baby from stomach viruses, lower repertory illnesses, ear infections and asthma! Children who are breastfed have a 20% lower risk of dying between the ages of 28 days and one year. Breast milk is specifically tailored for the baby. With all of the benefits, I have listed to add to the list is children who are breastfed are less likely to develop certain childhood cancers, develop diabetes...
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...Neonatal Nurse Practitioners work in the NICU helping premature babies who cannot function on their own without medical help. One of the most common issues is the care of sick babies and premature babies, with severe medical conditions. The NNP is a registered nurse with very high clinical experience in neonatal nursing who has received wonderful education with supervised clinical experience in the management of sick newborns and their families. Neonatal is looked at as the first 28 days of life, and that's where the name Neonatal nurse practitioner came from. The Neonatal nurse is a professional skilled nurse that cares for healthy babies, and the neonatal nurse practitioner is professional for babies who need special attention....
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...in the alveoli in the lungs. RDS affects newborn infants but rarely occurs in full term infants. RDS is primarily witnessed in infants of prematurity, usually less than 28 weeks gestation. RDS is more common in premature infants because the premature infant’s lungs aren't able to make enough surfactant. Surfactant is a liquid that coats the inside of the lungs and enables the alveoli to remain open so that infants can breathe in air once they're born. “Surfactant is necessary for lowering the surface tension in the alveoli so that they can stay open to allow the flow of gases. If surfactant levels are low, the alveoli do not expand and cannot receive air, leading the decreased gas exchange, low oxygen levels, and generalized distress throughout the body as cells do not receive the oxygen that they need to survive” Without sufficient surfactant, the lungs collapse and the infant has to work harder to breathe. The infant may not be able to breathe in enough oxygen to support the body's organs. This lack of oxygen circulating throughout the infant’s body can damage the baby's brain and various other organs if appropriate treatment is not delivered. Neonatal RDS can also be the result of genetic problems with lung development during the prenatal phase of the pregnancy. The earlier a baby is born, the less developed the lungs are and the higher the chance of neonatal RDS. Additional risk factors for RDS for the infant might include: • “A brother or sister who had RDS...
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...ARTICLE: CRITICAL LIFELINE OF INFANTS DUE TO BREAST FEEDING Source: DAILY NEWS NEWSPAPER Date: 14 MAY 2016 HTTPS//WWW.DAILYNEWS.CO.TZ/INDEX.PHP/COLUMNIST I choose the above the article because it puts emphasis on the importance of breast feeding for most infants to the society especially lactating mothers about the harmful impacts of consuming caffeinated beverages such as such as coffee, tea, some soft drinks, some medications, and chocolates for females who are pregnant and those who are not since it tells that the effects of caffeine occurring before even conceiving. The chosen article relates to HN 103 in a way that in HN 103 we learn in great depth about Nutrition through the Human Life Cycle, were by in HN 103 we learned that a good condition of a woman’s womb starts even before conception hence this knowledge from HN 103 in relation to the article helps woman who are preparing for conception and those who are already pregnant to know what’s required and what’s not required during the whole Gestational period. My opinion about the article it’s that the article provides valid information as it tells the pregnant women the conditions which are likely to cause harmful effects on the foetus since it cannot metabolize caffeine such effects includes low birth weight offspring, birth defects, premature labour, pre term babies and for mother it causes an increase in heart rate and blood pressure...
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