LIFE IN THE NICU

By Molly Turgeon

WHAT IS A PREMATURE
BABY?
A premature birth is a birth that takes

place more than three weeks before the

baby is due. In other words, a premature
birth is one that occurs before the start of
the 37th week of pregnancy. Normally, a
pregnancy lasts about 40 weeks.
Premature birth gives the baby less time
to develop in the womb. Those born
earlier, often have complicated medical
problems. every 1 out of 8 babies are
born premature in the United States each
year(March of Dimes, 23 October 2014)

COMPLICATIONS IN A
PREMATURE BABY
Twin to Twin
Transfusion
Jaundice
Feeding Troubles
Breathing
Problems

AGE OF MOTHER EFFECTING

PREMATURE LABOR
Mothers 16 and
younger or 35 and
older are more at
risk of preterm
labor

DECISION MAKING
Many parents have to make a decision if
they do everything they can do to save
their child or if they arrest (a stoppage or
sudden cessation of motion) if they
should stop and not try to revive them.
Many parents have to make this decision
knowing that if they revive their child,
their child will grow up with many
physical problems and will most likely not
be capable of walking, talking, or eating
on their own. Choosing that lifestyle for
your child includes a lot of money
because parents have to hire a nurse to
come in and take care of the child and
equipment, they would also have to pay
for the machines that the child will be on
for their whole life.

ETHICS
Doctors should talk to
the parents and make
them feel
comfortable in the
environment by
making them feel
that there is nothing
wrong with their child

EQUIPMENT USED IN THE

NICU
Endotracheal tube
Ventilator
Continuous Positive Airway Pressure
(C-PAP)
Oxygen hood
Intravenous lines
Umbilical catheter
Oral and nasal Central line
(sometimes referred to as a PICC line
Incubator

OUR MIRACLE BOYS

Brycen
1lb 7oz

Jaydon
1lb 3oz
When the boys were born on
June 7, 2014

OUR MIRACLE BOYS

The boys today:

Brycen 11lbs and
Jaydon 8lbs

THANK YOU!
Amy Pfenning
Victoria Flanagan
Rebecca Badgley
Caitlin Sartor