What is a baby incubator
If your baby needs to get into
the neonatal intensive care unit, you will see a lot of high-tech equipment.
Some of them may seem intimidating and intimidating. However, this is all to
help healthcare professionals take care of your child and give them the best
possible start in life. The neonatal incubator is one of the most important
pieces of equipment in the neonatal intensive care unit. It's a crib for your
baby that helps regulate their temperature and provides the ideal conditions
they need for their growth and development.
Why does my baby need a baby incubator?
There are many reasons why
your child might need an incubator. Some of them include:
- Premature birth.
This is the most common reason a child needs an incubator. Babies born too
early, before 37 weeks, may have problems such as low birth weight, irregular
temperatures, and unstable vital signs. An incubator for babies helps to
control their temperature. They will also receive the high calorie formula and
treatment needed to address any other issues.
- Traumatic birth.
Babies who have had difficult labors may not get enough oxygen or have reduced
blood flow. Doctors can treat this with whole body cooling. This is a treatment
that can help prevent brain damage that can happen when a child's blood flow is
reduced.
- Respiratory distress syndrome. This is a breathing problem caused by immature lungs.
Mild respiratory distress syndrome can be treated with a machine that pushes
air through the nose. This helps keep the lungs inflated. Infants with severe
respiratory distress syndrome may need a breathing tube or ventilator.
- Hypoglycemia.
This is low blood sugar. Sometimes it happens when babies are premature, have
an infection, or are born to women with gestational diabetes.
- Sepsis or other infection. Premature babies are at a higher risk of infections. They
may need antibiotics as well as other treatments.
- Maternal chorioamnionitis. This condition occurs when bacteria are present in the
membranes surrounding the baby, the amniotic fluid, or the umbilical cord. This
can cause infections in both mother and baby. The child may need antibiotic
treatment.
What does a baby incubator do?
Baby incubators provide the
perfect environment for your child's development. Newborns, especially
premature ones, may have trouble regulating body temperature. This, and the
fact that they have little fat, makes them prone to hypothermia. Hypothermia
occurs when your body loses heat faster than it can produce. This can lead to
complications such as lack of oxygen in the tissues, difficulty breathing and
growth retardation.
Incubators prevent hypothermia
by helping the child maintain an optimal temperature. The temperature controls
in the infant incubator can be set manually or automatically depending on your
baby's temperature. Baby incubators also act as humidifiers. This will prevent
your child from developing skin problems.
Another feature of baby
incubators is that they help block out noise. The neonatal ward can be a busy
and noisy place. Incubators protect babies from noise and direct light that can
disturb them and cause sleep disturbances, high blood pressure and unnecessary
stress.
What are the types of baby incubators?
There are several types of
baby incubators, and your child may be in different types at different times
depending on their needs. This includes:
- Open-box incubator.
This provides warmth under the baby, but is otherwise open.
- Closed-box incubator.
This type has a fresh air filtration system that prevents moisture loss from
the air and helps prevent infections.
- Incubator with double walls. This type has a double wall system for even more
protection against heat and moisture loss.
- Servo controlled incubator. This incubator can be programmed to adjust temperature
and humidity levels based on sensors attached to the baby.
- Transport incubators.
They are used to move babies from one place to another, such as from one part
of a hospital to another, or from a completely different hospital.
How can I take care of my baby in an incubator?
You may think that there is
nothing you can do to take care of your baby if he is in an incubator in the
neonatal intensive care unit, but this is not so. Talk to your child's doctors
and nurses about when and how you can hold your child. If your baby is not yet
able to breastfeed, you can express milk for him. Spend as much time with your
child as possible.
Ask about your child's schedule and let the nurses know that you are ready to take care of him. The nurses will be happy to let you do your best to learn how to care for them. You may be able to change diapers, take your baby's temperature, or give him a bath. If you like, ask if you can be there when your child has surgery.