Late Preterm Infants

Neonatal Resources, the Podcast

In this week’s gestational age episode, we talk about late preterm babies…you know, those “not-sure-how-I-am-gonna-act-just-yet” 34-36 weekers (and why they scare Michelle). We explore:

· Betamethasone for mom and how recommendations have changed

· Cold stress and bathing

· How to use your resources (like this podcast!)

· Why these babies are never a “sure thing” as far as their NICU stay is concerned.

Bibliography

Blackman, I. H. (2014). Factors influencing why nursing care is missed. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 24(1-2), 47-56. doi:10.1111/jocn.12688

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2020). Infant Health. Retrieved from National Center for Health Statistics: https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/infant-health.htm

Chamberlain, J., McCarty, S., Sorce, J., Leesman, B., Schmidt, S., Meyrick, E., . . . Coultas, L. (2019). Impact on delayed newborn bathing on exclusive breastfeeding rates, glucose and temperature stability, and weight loss. Journal of Neonatal Nursing, 74-77.

Data USA. (n.d.). Hospitals: DataUSA. Retrieved from Data USA: Explore, Map, Compare, and DOwnload US Data: https://datausa.io/profile/naics/hospitals#about

Goodman, D., Little , G., & Harrison, W. (2019). The Dartmouth Atlas of Neonatal Intensive Care. Hanover: The Trustees of Dartmouth College.

Ogboenyiya, A., Tubbs-Cooley, H., Miller, E., Johnson, K., & Bakas, T. (2020). Missed nursing care in pediatric and noenatal care settings: an integrative review. American Journal of Maternal/Child Nursing, 254-264.

Warren, S., Midodzi, W., Newhook, L., Murphy, P., & Twells, L. (2020). Effects of delayed newborn bathing on breastfeeding, hypothermia, and hypoglycemia. JOGNN, 181-189. doi:10.1016/j.jogn.2019.12.004

Notes:

ACOG – American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Want to see their betamethasone recommendation for this population for yourself? It’s here.

Chorioamnionitis (Chorio) – A bacterial infection of the chorion, amnion, and amniotic fluid. Often indicated by a high maternal fever, tender uterus, or foul-smelling amniotic fluid.

Cold Stress – Hypothermia (axillary temperature of less than 97.5° F) which causes an infant to have increased metabolic demands, often leading them to develop hypoxia, acidosis, and hypoglycemia.

Rationing Care – A term used to describe the situation where the nurse must decide which interventions to perform (and which to withhold) in order to accommodate their patient assignment. Read more about it in (Ogboenyiya, Tubbs-Cooley, Miller, Johnson, & Bakas, 2020)

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