The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : More care for ‘precious’ babies

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Saturday, May 03, 2008
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

More care for ‘precious’ babies

R.Sujatha

The ICH receives 10-15 newborns of which at least six are pre-term babies

CHENNAI: When Sreelatha Santhosh Kumar’s baby died a day after birth, the family was angry with the doctor and the hospital’s staff.

Sreelatha’s family members said the baby, delivered through Caesarean section, was born in the 37th week of pregnancy and had underdeveloped lungs. The hospital staff had placed it in a warmer when they noticed the baby turn blue, but its condition deteriorated and doctors shifted it to a hospital with better facilities but despite efforts there, the baby died.

This was Sreelatha’s first child born 13 years after marriage and after a failed attempt at an infertility centre.

Neonatologist Rahul Yadav, who treated the baby, says as abnormal movements had been detected three months before birth, the baby was delivered early. Even testsmay not help doctors diagnose the foetus’ condition completely. Most of the neonates and infants are very sick when they are brought to the hospital, he says.

There are three levels of neonatal care. “The first level of care is one in which a sick baby is fed by the mother; in the second level the infant needs intravenous drips and in the third level he or she may need ventilator support. Most hospitals have the first level of care but a sick baby can quickly progress from the first to the second level and shifting the baby to another hospital confuses the infant,” he says.

This brings down the recovery rate significantly, he says. Most nursing homes install warmers but since many of them have a paediatrician on call, they may not be available to diagnose the problem when the baby’s condition worsens, says Saradha Suresh, director of Institute of Child Health.

The ICH receives 10-15 newborns of which at least six were pre-term babies. One out of 100 births would be premature delivery and while 85 per cent would face no problems, 10 per cent would need special care and five per cent would need intensive care, says K. Githa, head of neonatology.

A hospital which has 10 beds for birthing should have five extra beds for newborn care and at least three ventilators, she points out.

One way to avoid disappointments is to plan for emergency situations, especially if it is a precious baby, Dr. Saradha Suresh says. “Parents should make a list of three hospitals. If it is a small family or a precious baby, it is better to go to a large hospital with good neonatal care,” she says. The ICH is also seeking transport facilities to rush newborns requiring special care at the hospital on demand.

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