A fighting chance for preterms

Mohammad Bavazeer was born at 26 weeks. He weighed 930 grams. His lungs were weak, his internal organs, including his heart, had not developed and his chances of survival were faint. But with the right medical support and timely intervention at the special care baby unit in Al Baraha Hospital, he survived. After three months in an incubator he was weaned off life support and allowed to be taken home.
His father, Shaikh Sayed Bavazeer, says, “If it had not been for the immediate and appropriate care that Mohammad received, I do not think my son would have survived. That was a critical time and we were fortunate to have the best medical support. He is now seven months old and has been showing good progress. However, he is still behind compared to other children his age.”
Mohammad had two holes in his heart when he was taken home, which doctors said would heal with age. “While one hole has closed, the other will need surgical intervention when he is old enough. He has reduced hearing and has not yet begun to mumble, but I trust God and medical technology. Miracles do happen,” Bavazeer says.
Dr Musaddaq Inayat, Specialist Paediatrician — Neonatologist, International Modern Hospital, says, “The first hour of life is also known as the golden hour. Many important physiological changes happen to a newborn during this time. The utmost should be attempted to deliver a preterm baby in a centre where neonatal intensive care is present.
“This can prevent many potential complications due to transportation of the baby or due to a lack of knowledge and skill from inexperienced staff. Appropriate and ample care at the earliest improves survival chances.”
He adds, “Due to advancements in medical technologies, the survival of preterm babies has tremendously increased worldwide as well as in the UAE in the last decade.”
Dr Sridhar Kalyanasundaram, Consultant Neonatologist and Director — Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, American Hospital Dubai, says, “A premature baby is defined as one born before 37 weeks of gestation. Not all premature babies need the same level of intensive care. In general, the earlier the baby is delivered, the sicker they will be, and the greater the level of support they will need. When a baby is born very premature, there is a significant risk of abnormal neurodevelopmental disorders.
“The neonatal period [first month after birth] is a high risk period as significant changes occur during transition from in utero life to independent existence. The baby is at risk of lung conditions, serious infections, neonatal jaundice and feeding problems. Management of sick neonates requires highly specialised equipment, skilled and nursing staff who are specifically trained to looking after small babies, and experienced neonatologists.”
Dr Kalyanasundaram adds, “This is a field of medicine where rapid advances are being made and there is great stress on evidence-based practice.”