Respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) — a condition where a baby finds difficulty in breathing due to immature lungs. Preterm babies often require oxygen support by various types of non invasive and invasive ventilation and surfactant administration directly into the lungs.
Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA)– A heart condition that causes blood to divert away from the lungs.
Feeding difficulties – premature babies are often unable to suck and need to be fed via a tube into the stomach until the sucking and swallowing reflex is developed and later paladai feeds until they are ready for breastfeeding.
Hypothermia – Temperature control centre in a premature baby’s brain is immature and also body fat is low. Babies are therefore cared for under special overhead heaters or in enclosed incubators until they are mature enough to be cared for in a normal cot.
Apnea of prematurity – Apnea is temporary pauses in breathing due to immaturity of the respiratory centre. They require stimulation at that time and support in breathing if apnea is repetitive and also some medicines like caffeine is given till the baby is mature enough to overcome this condition.
Neonatal Jaundice – The skin takes on a yellow colour, due to a compound in the blood called bilirubin. A premature baby’s liver is too immature to process the bilirubin properly. Special phototherapy lights are used to treat jaundice.
Retinopathy of prematurity is due to abnormal growth of the blood vessels in a baby’s retina. .Sometimes LASER surgery might be needed to cure this condition. for the same.