Synopsis "Babies Born Early: A guide for parents of babies born before 32 weeks"
If your baby is in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) right now and you want to learn about medical conditions affecting premature babies, their complications, therapies, and outcomes-this book is for You! Premature birth almost always occurs unexpectedly. Small babies are stabilized in the labor room and afterwards separated from their mothers and rushed into the NICU. Babies born before 32 weeks of gestational age will have to spend many weeks or even months in that alienating environment. A multitude of scary-looking equipment and an alphabet soup of medical conditions used in conversations between you and NICU staff will create a lot of anxiety for you.If you acquire knowledge about prematurity and get familiar with the NICU environment, that will undoubtedly influence your emotions favorably. You will also be more confident whenever you need to discuss your child's progress or have to consent to a procedure or surgery. Dr Wisniewski-a neonatologist with over 20 years of NICU experience-wrote this book covering three main topics: Introduction to the NICU environment with background information on prematurity and its effects on babies.Common medical conditions affecting almost all babies born before 32 weeks (respiratory distress syndrome, apneas, feeding problems, jaundice).Medical complications occurring only in some premature babies (bronchopulmonary dysplasia, retinopathy of prematurity, necrotizing enterocolitis, intraventricular hemorrhage, patent ductus arteriosus, infections).In addition to the above-mentioned medical topics, author spends a significant amount of time discussing outcomes such as rates of survival and motor and intellectual development after discharge home.In Dr Wisniewski's own words: "I wrote this book for somebody like me, educated and wanting the maximum amount of medical information they can get. If I were an engineer and my baby was in the NICU, I would like to find a book like this one. I simplified certain topics, but still, you will find more knowledge here than in a typical parents' book. I did not want to dumb down its contents, because, in my experience, NICU parents are always hungry for more information."Who is this book for?Parents and families of babies born before 32 weeks who are treated in a NICU.People with at least high school education.Anybody who is not a medical professional but wants to learn about conditions affecting premature babies.Who shouldn't read it?People who obtained only a basic level of education.Parents whose baby is already at home: because this book focuses only on conditions requiring treatment in a NICU, it will not be beneficial.People who worry a lot or easily get depressed when they read about risks, side effects, or potentially negative health outcomes.
