Digestive Disorders In Premature Babies

Anemia is a common condition in which the body doesn t have enough red blood cells.

Digestive disorders in premature babies.

One common condition is called pyloric stenosis which occurs. Premature babies who receive only breast milk have a much lower risk of developing nec. 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. The more immature a baby is the more likely there will be problems with the function of the gi.

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. This is due to the immaturity of their digestive systems. Gastroesophageal reflux meconium ileus necrotizing enterocolitis and jaundice are some of the most common digestive problems in premature babies. 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.

These symptoms may indicate the baby is having digestive problems. 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. Most babies are able to absorb nutrients and have normal bowel movements after being fed. Trouble in any of these areas can be a short term adjustment or a sign of a more serious problem.

Premature babies have special nutritional needs as a result. In rare instances vomiting in infancy can indicate that baby was born with or has developed a malformation of the digestive tract. Premature babies are at risk of blood problems such as anemia and newborn jaundice. In fact statistics show that around 50 of babies suffer from mild digestive disorders during their first months of life.

But the biggest problems faced while taking care of a premature baby is the digestive issues. Gastrointestinal problems in preemies preterm babies have underdeveloped gastrointestinal systems resulting in a lot of complications such as indigestion colic acid reflux etc. There is nothing wrong with the digestive system except that it does not yet know how to function properly. A newborn is considered premature if he is born prior to the 37th week of pregnancy.

A newborn s ability to eat and digest food is essential to growth and development. We tell you what it consists of and what treatment is the most indicated for each case for babies born before time.