24 min
What To Expect if Your Twins are Born Prematurely Double Happiness Multiplied
-
- Kids & Family
Order your pre-launch copy of the book DOUBLE HAPPINESS MULTIPLIED - What you need to know about having Twins, Triplets, & Quads HERE:
https://www.doublehappinessmultiplied.com/twins-triplets-quads-book/
On this episode of the Double Happiness Multiplied podcast, we talk with Consultant Neonatologist Doctor Patricia Woods from King Edward Memorial Hospital in Western Australia about what to expect when you have babies in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).
Mum of quadruplets Jannelle Snaddon walks us through her NICU journey.
Psychologist Doctor Monique Robinson offers practical advice about taking care of your emotional wellbeing when you have babies in NICU.
I’ll share my NICU story with you and I’ll read a moving letter from a micro-premmie mum written to other parents of premature babies.
What does pre-term mean?
A Preterm or Premmie baby is defined as being born alive before 37 weeks of pregnancy are completed. There are sub-categories of preterm birth, however, based on gestational age:
*
Extremely preterm, or micro premmies, are born at less than 28-weeks’ gestation,
*
Very preterm are those babies born between 28 and 32-weeks’ gestation,
*
And, moderate to late preterm, which are babies born after 32 weeks and before 37-weeks’ gestation.
Why does preterm birth happen?
There are many reasons preterm births occur, the most common causes include multiple pregnancies, infections, and chronic conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure. However, oftentimes no cause is identified but may be due to genetic influences.
Pre-term birth facts
*
Worldwide, an estimated 15 million babies are born too early every year. That’s more than one in every 10 babies. Sadly, of these babies, approximately 1 million will die each year due to complications of their preterm birth.
*
Prematurity is the leading cause of death in children under the age of 5 years, globally.
*
In almost all countries with reliable data, preterm birth rates are increasing, with stark inequalities in survival rates around the world.
*
In low-income settings, half of all babies born at or below 32 weeks die due to a lack of feasible, cost-effective care, such as warmth, breastfeeding support, and basic care for infections and breathing difficulties.
*
In contrast, babies born at or below 32-weeks in high-income countries will almost always survive.
Where and when does preterm birth happen?
Preterm birth is a global problem despite more than 60 per cent of preterm births occurring in Africa and South Asia. In lower-income countries, on average, 12 per cent of babies are born too early compared with 9 per cent in higher-income countries.
There is also a dramatic difference in survival rates of premature babies depending on where they’re born. For example, more than 90 per cent of extremely preterm babies born in low-income countries die within the first few days of life; yet less than 10 per cent of extremely preterm babies die in high-income settings.
These statistics are interesting and for some will offer reassurance and a glimmer of hope during this time of immense emotional turmoil, however, as Consultant Neonatologist Doctor Patricia Woods explains, it can be quite confronting.
The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)
“I think the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit is a terrifying place for families.
Order your pre-launch copy of the book DOUBLE HAPPINESS MULTIPLIED - What you need to know about having Twins, Triplets, & Quads HERE:
https://www.doublehappinessmultiplied.com/twins-triplets-quads-book/
On this episode of the Double Happiness Multiplied podcast, we talk with Consultant Neonatologist Doctor Patricia Woods from King Edward Memorial Hospital in Western Australia about what to expect when you have babies in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).
Mum of quadruplets Jannelle Snaddon walks us through her NICU journey.
Psychologist Doctor Monique Robinson offers practical advice about taking care of your emotional wellbeing when you have babies in NICU.
I’ll share my NICU story with you and I’ll read a moving letter from a micro-premmie mum written to other parents of premature babies.
What does pre-term mean?
A Preterm or Premmie baby is defined as being born alive before 37 weeks of pregnancy are completed. There are sub-categories of preterm birth, however, based on gestational age:
*
Extremely preterm, or micro premmies, are born at less than 28-weeks’ gestation,
*
Very preterm are those babies born between 28 and 32-weeks’ gestation,
*
And, moderate to late preterm, which are babies born after 32 weeks and before 37-weeks’ gestation.
Why does preterm birth happen?
There are many reasons preterm births occur, the most common causes include multiple pregnancies, infections, and chronic conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure. However, oftentimes no cause is identified but may be due to genetic influences.
Pre-term birth facts
*
Worldwide, an estimated 15 million babies are born too early every year. That’s more than one in every 10 babies. Sadly, of these babies, approximately 1 million will die each year due to complications of their preterm birth.
*
Prematurity is the leading cause of death in children under the age of 5 years, globally.
*
In almost all countries with reliable data, preterm birth rates are increasing, with stark inequalities in survival rates around the world.
*
In low-income settings, half of all babies born at or below 32 weeks die due to a lack of feasible, cost-effective care, such as warmth, breastfeeding support, and basic care for infections and breathing difficulties.
*
In contrast, babies born at or below 32-weeks in high-income countries will almost always survive.
Where and when does preterm birth happen?
Preterm birth is a global problem despite more than 60 per cent of preterm births occurring in Africa and South Asia. In lower-income countries, on average, 12 per cent of babies are born too early compared with 9 per cent in higher-income countries.
There is also a dramatic difference in survival rates of premature babies depending on where they’re born. For example, more than 90 per cent of extremely preterm babies born in low-income countries die within the first few days of life; yet less than 10 per cent of extremely preterm babies die in high-income settings.
These statistics are interesting and for some will offer reassurance and a glimmer of hope during this time of immense emotional turmoil, however, as Consultant Neonatologist Doctor Patricia Woods explains, it can be quite confronting.
The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)
“I think the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit is a terrifying place for families.
24 min