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Premature Baby
Premature Baby-Low Blood Pressure
Low blood
pressure is a relatively common complication that may occur shortly after birth.
It can be due to infection, blood loss, fluid loss, or medications given to the
mother before delivery. Low blood pressure is treated by increasing fluid intake
or prescribing medications. Infants who have low blood pressure due to blood
loss may need a blood transfusion.
Blood Pressure Monitor
A
"Blood Pressure Monitor" is a small blood pressure cuff placed around
your preemies baby's arm or leg and it is attached to a machine. The machine
monitors the preemies baby's blood pressure at regular intervals by tightening
the cuff to measure the pressure exerted by the blood against the vessel, vein,
and artery walls. The information is then displayed on a screen on the blood
pressure monitor.
 The purpose of
the blood pressure monitor is to make sure your preemies baby's blood pressure
does not fall too low. Low blood pressure is very common in babies
right after they are born, and can be caused by infection, blood loss, fluid
loss, some medications, and sometimes reasons that are unknown. Respiratory
distress has also been linked to low blood pressure in preemies babies.
Low blood
pressure (hypotension) does not allow the blood to circulate properly and must
be treated because it can cause serious problems for your baby. Organs
such as the heart, brain, kidneys, and etc. cannot function properly and may be
permanently damaged due to the lack of oxygen and important nutrients vital to
sustaining organ function. It is essential to raise your preemies baby's blood
pressure immediately to return good blood flow throughout your baby's body.
Raising your baby's blood pressure can be as simple as giving your baby extra fluid
by IV, but sometimes it takes a little bit more. Medications called pressors can
increase your premature baby's blood pressure. If the cause for low blood
pressure is blood loss, then a blood transfusion will be performed with donor
blood from a blood bank.
By Sjona
Lindquist
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