Typically, the equipment that babies go home with are an apnea monitor, a feeding tube, and oxygen.

Let's take a quick look at each to ensure you understand them.

Apnea monitor

This is for babies that have periodic interruptions of breathing. If they do not outgrow it at the hospital you will need a monitor. be sure you know what to do when the monitor alarm goes off, and when to call the doctor if you have this equipment, as sometimes the alarm goes off when there's nothing wrong with your baby. You'll learn how to recognize these false alarms and what to do to help avoid them.

Feeding tube

Some babies can't suck or swallow well enough to take in enough nutrients for healthy growth. It may take a few weeks for their heart, lungs, mouth, airways, or central nervous system to develop enough for them to feed on their own. If this is the case, your baby needs to be fed through a gavage tube.

The tube is inserted through the baby's nose or mouth, down the back of the throat, through the esophagus, and into the stomach. You do not remove it in between feedings, and the baby typically gets used to it.

If your baby isn't able to take in enough food by mouth for an extended period, they may need to be fed through an opening in their stomach (gastronomy). This opening has a small plastic feeding tube attached to it.

Oxygen

The most common reasons babies need oxygen at home is a lung disorder called bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). If your baby needs oxygen you will have stationary tanks, for in their crib, and portable tanks for when you need to take them to the hospital, etc. You will also have the nasal cannula that goes in their nose.

Most babies need oxygen for less than six months. And, in most cases the lungs are completely healed in two years. Most of the time a nurse will be assigned to check in on your baby. However, if the hospital does not assign one, ask about it.

The following is a look at feeding concerns for preemie babies.

Breast feeding premature babies:

Breastfeeding is great for all newborns, but it's even more important if your baby arrives early. If your baby is premature, even if you intended to bottle feed, it may be wise to change your mind and try breast feeding, for at least a while. Your body is designed to function as perfectly as possible, and if your baby comes prematurely, your body will automatically produce milk that's specially designed to nourish your premature baby, with extra calories, vitamins, and protein. In addition to that, you get all of the other benefits of breast feeding such as the live cells in breast milk that protect babies from infection. These are extremely important for any baby, but are even more so for premature babies because the preemie babies are at higher risk for infection due to immature immune systems. The antibodies your baby will get from breast feeding can't be found in formula, even those artificially formulated just for preemie babies.

• In some cases premature babies are too small, and too fragile to actually nurse at the breast, and thus other options are pursued. Whether or not your baby is ready to nurse at your breast right away will depend on their gestational age and overall health. The colostrum in the first few days after giving birth is very beneficial for baby though, so at many hospitals it's standard practice to start off feeding very premature babies expressed breast milk and colostrum. This is done through a nasogastric (NG) tube (known as gavage). If they are too immature to suck at the breast, they will be fed this way or through a bottle so that they still get the nourishment and benefits of breast feeding, despite their inability to actually do so.


• Premature babies are kept in the hospital for a while after birth, and the nursing staff and lactation specialists at the hospital will likely work closely with you to create a plan to feed your baby pumped breast milk. In many cases the premature baby is simply not ready to breast feed right away, however, because your baby will not be released from the hospital until they start to gain weight from breast or bottle feeding, they are going to work with you to create a great plan. They will work with you and your baby on a daily basis to try and help your baby learn to suckle right at the breast.

Once your baby is able to start nursing at the breast your nurses and lactation specialists will help you to get your baby on a feeding schedule. When your baby is premature, you should be prepared to nurse frequently. Premature babies do not generally take in much milk at each feeding, at least not until they are closer to term. Because a premature baby does not eat as much, you will want to feed them often to help them grow, but also to help keep your milk supply up. If your baby is not eating much, you will want to express milk using a pump to keep your milk production up so that when they do reach term, and eat more, you have the milk to feed them.

In addition, with a premature baby you may need to experiment with different holds to see which one is best for them to latch on. Their mouths are often small, and the football hold, or side-by-side hold may produce better results then the cross over, for instance. Again, the lactation specialist at the hospital will help you to find the best way to feed your premature baby.

Bottle:

A premature baby that is bottle fed is going to be missing out on some of the advantages of breast milk, but in many cases it is actually easier for them to eat, and thus gain weight when they are fed with a bottle. Your nursing staff at the hospital will be able to help you find the right bottles for your baby, and help you get them on a formula that meets their needs and agrees with their body.

Now that you know how to feed your premature baby, let's take a look at how you care for a premature baby:

A premature baby is often fussier, or more problematic then a full term baby. Often their gastrointestinal systems are not all the way formed and mature, so your baby is more colicky. Other times they need assistance breathing for a while. They may need to have the bili-suitcase to help their bodies process bilirubin, etc. Thus, they require a little more time and attention on your part, at least until they reach full term. Your doctor will tell you specifically what things you need to do for baby. In some cases, however, it is wise to keep your eyes open for additional problems, and know when to call your doctor. Some preemie parents worry that they are being overly concerned because their baby is a preemie. However, it is always better to be safe than sorry. The following is a look at when to call the doctor if you have a premature baby.

Call your premature baby's healthcare provider if your baby:

• Has a blue tint around the nose, lips, or on the skin. This is an indication of breathing problems, and your baby may need further assistance, an oxygen tank, etc. If you do not call your doctor right away your baby could suffer brain damage, etc.
• Is paler than usual. This may be an indication of poor circulation and blood flow.
• Refuses to eat. This might be an indication of infection or other problems. It may be a latching problem, or lethargic tendencies, but it may be something more serious.
• Is more irritable than usual. This can indicate any host of problems, and it is much smarter to check and see then to wait.
• Is less active than usual. If they start to sleep a lot more, or are showing lethargic tendencies, call your doctor immediately.
• Vomits. This is when it is not just spit up, but actual vomit.
• Has trouble breathing. This may be indicated by a wheezing or rasping sound.
• Diarrhea for more than one day.
• Does not seem right to you. You are the best judge of whether or not your baby is okay, so be sure that you listen to your best instincts and determine if your baby is okay and call the doctor if they are not.