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Preemie Problems
Learn What to Expect and
How to Cope
How to Cope
By Katherine Bontrager
A second problem is nutritional. Preemies may not yet be able to suck, swallow and breathe and, therefore, can't take in breast milk, so intravenous feeding may be needed, says Dr. Cole. Other issues include an increased risk of bleeding in the brain and infection, which is why many infants are treated with antibiotics right after birth.
Joan Smith, a neonatal nurse practitioner at St. Louis Children's Hospital, knows all too well the risks associated with premature births. "I'm not sure parents can adequately prepare themselves for this highly emotional experience," she says. "As a neonatal nurse and a parent of premature twins, I can't say that I – with years of NICU experience – was adequately pepared for this emotional rollercoaster. Parents who experience a premature birth are faced with feelings of terror, joy, panic, excitement, anger, guilt, fear, sadness and grief, just to name a few. They've been robbed of the experience of having a full-term, 'normal' delivery."
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