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Each
year in the United States approximately one out of 10 births occur
before the completion of the full term. In their new book,
"Preemies: The Essential Guide For Parents Of Premature
Babies," authors Dana Linden, Emma Paroli and Mia Doron
discuss the nature of premature birth and coping strategies for
parents.
Premature
birth of children occurs when the baby is born before the complete
gestation of the full nine-month term. Why these kinds of births
occur is still a mystery. The authors state, "Experts believe
that most preterm births result not from a single cause, but from
several risk factors interacting through pregnancy." These
different risk factors are an important component of this book’s
subject matter.
The
book is divided into four broad categories: "Before
Birth," "In The Hospital," "A Life
Together" and "Other Considerations." The chapters
in each category are comprised of current information relevant to
a specific aspect of premature birth. They also contain a helpful
question-and-answer section, a section on multiples (such as
twins), the perspective of doctors and parents, and an in-depth
discussion of a topic pertaining to that chapter.
In
part one, "Before Birth," the authors explain why
premature births happen and what can be done to prevent them.
Their advice includes bed-rest survival tips, diagnosing preterm
labor, the different drugs available and what to do when the
condition induces an early delivery of the baby.
Part
two, "In The Hospital," is an exhaustive discussion of
the baby’s premature delivery into the world. This section goes
to the heart of the book’s theme — the safe delivery of the
premature baby and the health and well being of the mother. One of
the most important chapters in this section is "Settling Down
in the Hospital." It explains the procedures that take place
in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and the necessity of
making the NICU a home away from home for the expectant mother.
The authors also describe the care, treatments and tests that the
preemie and the mother can expect after the completion of the
birth.
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In
"A Life Together" it is time to take the baby home and
begin the child-raising process. Important information in this
section involves the monitoring of the baby’s health and
development, especially from the premature stage through the
preschool years. Since there can be consequences related to
premature birth, the authors’ reassuring chapter, "When
Parents Have Something to Worry About," discusses the problems
that may arise as the child grows older. These problems can affect
hearing, vision, sensory integration or IQ. The
questions-and-answers approach to these concerns should allay the
fears of parents seeking information on these conditions.
The
concluding section, "Other Considerations," looks at two
opposite topics that should also be considered: the possibility of
losing a baby and an uplifting chapter on famous personalities who
were born preemies (most notably Mark Twain, Albert Einstein and
Winston Churchill).
"Preemies"
is a welcome addition to the literature on the premature birth of
babies. It should be considered a starting point for any parent who
may encounter this possibility during the term of a pregnancy. The
book’s layout is enhanced by the descriptive nature of the table
of contents; in fact, the authors recommend that you not read the
entire book: "We purposely wrote it in bite-sized pieces, with
each question and answer or box addressing a separate topic, so that
you can read about the specific issues that are relevant for you and
your baby — and skip all of the rest." "Preemies"
is recommended as an excellent source of information for parents who
may be expecting the premature birth of their baby.
For
more information, visit the Public Library at 725 Pekin St. or call
217-732-8878.
[Richard
Sumrall, Lincoln Public Library District]
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