Digestive Disorders In Premature Babies

This is due to the immaturity of their digestive systems.

Digestive disorders in premature babies.

We tell you what it consists of and what treatment is the most indicated for each case for babies born before time. Like so much in the world of prematurity how well or poorly a baby s gi tract does function is a reflection of their gestational age. Premature babies have special nutritional needs as a result. A newborn is considered premature if he is born prior to the 37th week of pregnancy.

While all newborns experience a slow drop in red blood cell count during. But the biggest problems faced while taking care of a premature baby is the digestive issues. Trouble in any of these areas can be a short term adjustment or a sign of a more serious problem. There is nothing wrong with the digestive system except that it does not yet know how to function properly.

These symptoms may indicate the baby is having digestive problems. Gastrointestinal problems in preemies preterm babies have underdeveloped gastrointestinal systems resulting in a lot of complications such as indigestion colic acid reflux etc. Premature babies who receive only breast milk have a much lower risk of developing nec. In rare instances vomiting in infancy can indicate that baby was born with or has developed a malformation of the digestive tract.

One common condition is called pyloric stenosis which occurs. In fact statistics show that around 50 of babies suffer from mild digestive disorders during their first months of life. Most babies are able to absorb nutrients and have normal bowel movements after being fed. Digestive disorders occur more frequently in babies than we might think.

Premature babies or preemies enter the world with immature digestive or gastrointestinal systems that are incapable of safely absorbing nutrients explains the american pregnancy association. A common issue in premature babies is necrotizing enterocolitis a disease that can affect a premature baby s intestines according to the march of dimes. Gastroesophageal reflux meconium ileus necrotizing enterocolitis and jaundice are some of the most common digestive problems in premature babies. The more immature a baby is the more likely there will be problems with the function of the gi.

Anemia is a common condition in which the body doesn t have enough red blood cells. A study published by jama found that the survival rate for babies born before 28 weeks which is considered extremely premature increased from 70 percent in 1993 to 79 percent in 2012.