Neonatology, or in simplistic terms, ‘care’ of the newborn baby has evolved in
the past 25 years or so to become a much wanted and sophisticated subspecialty of
paediatrics, essentially limited to obstetrics. In fact the trend is now to integrate
Neonatology and obstetrics into prenatal medicine, where in the close interaction between
the above-mentioned specialties, streamlines all pregnancies including complicated and
premature deliveries, to reach a holistic fruitful medical endpoint. That is to give a
budding rose its fullest potential that implies delivering the baby at the appropriate
time by using sophisticated electronic surveillance and giving the newborn baby a
physiologically intact brain proportionate to its ultimate genetic programme.
Inappropriate timing of the delivery due to lack of using electronic surveillance (CTG)
could lead to the damage of unborn baby’s brain whose deficiencies could be detected
only in school going age in many circumstances. Gross deficiency of oxygen leads to
cerebral palsy and mental retardation.
It is hence imperative that mothers be informed on the "high risk"
concept with appropriate referral of such matters to a perinatal center. The transport of
the mother is ideal for the unborn baby since mother is the best transport incubator.
Transferring a sick baby after birth is hazardous and imposes on his life and brain
serious detrimental effects. These babies come for admission in cold state, with low sugar
in the blood (leading to fits) and often with attacks of cessation of breathing (apnea)
all of which have adverse effects on a baby’s brain, and life. |
