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How Can You Tell that Your Preemie Is Maturing?

Pediatric Home Health Care McKees Rocks PA-It's difficult to be able to tell when your preemie is starting to mature and catch up with her development. These signs can help.

By default, a premature baby is still working on maturing. That takes some time and some patience on both your parts. These clues can help you to learn when your preemie is starting to become more mature.

Pediatric Home Health Care McKees Rocks PA – How Can You Tell that Your Preemie Is Maturing?

Your Baby Is Overstimulated Less Often

All babies can get overstimulated by what’s going on around them, but preemies are more likely to experience overstimulation far more often. This happens because their brains and their bodies are still catching up. It’s jarring for these babies to be in the world with its bright lights and loud sounds. Do what you can to minimize these stimuli until your baby is at a stage where she’s better able to cope with them.

Your Baby Isn’t as Stressed

Overstimulation can lead to stress. All of these new experiences and stimuli are difficult to cope with all at once. Reducing the stimulation also reduces the stress your baby is experiencing. Instead of having to manage all sorts of things all at once, your baby may only need to cope with one stimulus at a time. You might notice that some things comfort your baby, such as massage, but other things might not. Your baby’s stress levels may be differently affected at different times, much as your own are by certain situations.

Your Baby Is More Alert

As your baby has to devote less energy to growing, developing, and avoiding irritating stimuli, she’ll be more alert and aware of what’s going on around her. She’ll start to make eye contact for longer periods of time and start to pay attention to what is happening around her. Your baby will likely want to explore what’s going on around her, too.

Your Baby Is Moving More Purposefully

Infant and preemie movements are not as coordinated as older babies or babies that aren’t premature. Their muscles are not as able to move the way that your baby wants them to move and their movements might appear to be jerky and random. This changes gradually and your baby becomes better able to move in a way that serves a purpose for her. She’s developing muscle tone and control.

Hiring pediatric home health care providers can help you to learn what these signs look like for your individual baby. Every preemie is different, and you might need help learning how to differentiate the different cues that you’re getting, especially soon after you bring your baby home.

If you or a loved one are considering Pediatric Home Health Care Services in McKees Rocks PA, please call and talk to the caring staff at Extended Family Care of Pittsburgh at (412) 693-6009. We will answer all of your questions.
Stephen Sternbach

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