Keeping a micro-preemie healthy

Hi everyone. Morgan is doing well. I saw him this afternoon and they had put him back on just a flow of oxygen. He is still on 21%, so he isn't requiring more oxygen just a flow of it. He has been having desat episodes. He is still trying to figure out eating. I tried to feed him this afternoon and he would Brady (drop his heart rate) which I haven't seen him do before but the night nurse said she didn't have that problem last night when she fed him. She said he did pretty well except he dropped his sats twice but took most of the bottle. So we'll see, we haven't quite figured out what is going on...it may simply be that he needs more time. Morgan will have another eye exam tomorrow to see if the ROP is improving...hopefully it is!

I thought I would post this list of things to do to keep preemies, especially micro-preemies healthy. When Morgan comes home the most important thing for anyone to do before they touch him is to wash their hands. Here are some ways to keep him healthy:

1) Hand washing. Hand washing, Hand washing! Hand washing cannot be emphasized enough. It is the single best way to avoid the spread of disease. Every single person who touches a preemie (or any baby) should first wash their hands. This includes friends, family, siblings, healthcare workers, and even parents.

2) Stay away from sick people. This may seem obvious, but do not let sick people visit and do not visit them with your preemie.

3) Avoid crowds. The grocery store and malls are full of people and germs. Even churches can be a hazard, especially because everyone will want to admire your preemie up close. If you have to go out with your preemie pick a time of day when there will be minimal exposure to crowds and do not be afraid to ask people to step back.

4) Hand Sanitizer. Recent studies have shown that the proper use of hand sanitizer can decrease the transmission of disease in the home. It is a great option when there is no sink available or when you have the baby on the changing table.

5) Smart scheduling. When making doctors appointments ask for the first appointment of the day or the first appointment after lunch. This decreases the risk of exposure to other children in the office.

6) RSV and Flu preventatives. RSV is a virus that presents as nothing more than a cold in most children, but it can be a very serious for children at risk including many preemies. Ninety percent of the population is exposed to RSV before they reach two years old, which means it is very likely that your preemie will be exposed to RSV at some point. The drug Synagis is given as a monthly injection to protect against RSV. Synagis decreases the severity of RSV but it does not totally prevent children from contracting RSV. The flu is also a very serious illness in young children. All adults around your preemie should get a flu shot every year.

7) Be the gatekeeper for your child. One of the most important responsibilities any parent has is to be the gatekeeper for their child. This is especially true for preemies. Do not feel bad telling well meaning strangers that they cannot touch your child. Let family and friends know that they cannot come into your home with so much as a sniffle.

8) No smoking. Smoking has been shown to increase the risk of RSV and other respiratory illness in preemies. Yet another good reason to quit and to ban smoking in your home. If you have been smoking change clothes before touching baby.

9) Limit Exposure from older siblings. If there are older siblings in school it is important to teach them how to prevent the spread of infection. Emphasizing hand washing and limiting close contact as much as possible, especially if the sibling is sick, are the best ways to keep older siblings form spreading illness to your preemie.

Lastly, if you do happen to get sick try to stay away from your preemie and let another caregiver take over until you are no longer contagious.