Let’s wear purple on the 17th of November!

Why?
Because on the 17th of November we celebrate World Prematurity Day and purple is the color of premature babies. It’s the color-sign of those infants who are born in between the 24th and 37th week of pregnancy and whose weight is under 2500 grams. They might born with little body, big head, tiny extremities, no fingernails. Their skin has usually a reddish purple shade and is extremely thin and sensitive. They might not have cartilage in their ears, and might not be able to open their eyes. They don’t cry when they are born, and it’s a huge relief if they can breathe.

The earlier they arrive, the more underdeveloped their lungs, heart, sensory organs, digestive-, nervous- and immune system will be. It’s an extraordinary effort for them to breath, to swallow, to see. They are increasingly exposed to infections and cannot regulate their body temperature. That’s why they are placed in incubators – artificial wombs –, which keep their body temperatures where they should be and enables them to focus on remaining alive.

What can we do if they arrived earlier?
In the hospital:
● Trust your doctors and healthcare assistants who take care of you.
● Bear with patience the time you should spend in hospital.
● Touch your child as frequently as possible, be around them, sing to them, embrace them, practice the Kangaroo care, let the baby feel your comforting presence.
● Keep your hope alive and seak confidently for professionals` help who might support you emotionally: a psychologist, a priest.
● Rely on your family`s, friends` and fellow companions` support.
At home:
● Go to your family doctor, speak honestly about your concerns regarding your baby or family, listen to their advice, follow their guidance, do the prescribed examinations, keep in touch with them.
● By the recommendation of your family doctor take your baby to the pediatrician, ophthalmologist, neurologist, eventually to a psychopedagogue or physiotherapist if needed and follow their instructions.

When to go to a psychopedagogue or a physiotherapist?
Watch your baby`s development carefully and go to a specialist if you notice one or more of the following symptoms:
● at 6 weeks they don’t turn their head equally to both sides;
● at 3 months on stomach lying position they don’t lift their head, or if they do, they cannot hold it;
● they took a constantly asymmetrical, the so-called crescent shape;
● at 6-7 months they don’t yet turn and they don’t play with their arms and legs;
● their muscles are too tense or too loose;
● at 8 months they don’t yet roll and they don’t try to reach or catch the objects around them;
● they are indifferent to the environment around them, they don’t react on lights or noise;
● by the age of 2 they cannot walk yet.