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Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia - Living With - Living With

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After your baby leaves the hospital, he or she will likely need follow-up care. It is important to follow your child\u2019s treatment plan and get regular care. It is also important to take care of your mental health as you care for your baby at home.

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\n Receive routine follow-up care \n
- Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia - Living With

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Your child will likely continue on all or some of the treatments that were started at the hospital, including:

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  • Medicines, such as bronchodilators, steroids, and diuretics.
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  • Oxygen therapy or breathing support from NCPAP or a ventilator.
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  • Extra nutrition and calories, which may be given through a feeding tube.
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  • Preventive treatment with a medicine called palivizumab for severe respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). This common virus leads to mild, cold-like symptoms in adults and older, healthy children. However, in newborns\u2014especially those in high-risk groups\u2014RSV can lead to severe breathing problems.
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Your child also should have regular checkups with and timely vaccinations from a pediatrician, a doctor who specializes in treating children. If your child needs oxygen therapy or a ventilator at home, a pulmonary specialist might be involved in his or her care.

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\n Ongoing health issues and developmental delays \n
- Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia - Living With

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Newborns who have BPD may have health problems even after they leave the hospital. These include:

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  • Delayed growth during their first two years. Children who survive BPD usually are smaller than other children of the same age.
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  • Increased risk for infections, such as colds and the flu. If these children develop respiratory infections, they may need to be treated in a hospital.
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  • Lung problems throughout childhood and even into adulthood. These problems can include underdeveloped lungs and asthma.
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  • Need for ongoing oxygen therapy or breathing support from NCPAP or a ventilator. A pulmonary specialist may help with your child's long-term care and make treatment recommendations.
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  • Trouble swallowing. This may put them at risk for getting food stuck in their airways. This condition is called aspiration, and it can cause infection. Children who have BPD may need help from a specialist to learn how to swallow correctly.
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Babies who have very severe BPD also may develop other problems, such as:

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  • Apnea. This is a condition in which breathing stops for short periods.
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  • Poor coordination and muscle tone.
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  • Delayed speech and problems with vision and hearing.
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  • Learning problems.
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  • Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). This is a condition in which the stomach contents back up into the esophagus during or after a feeding. The esophagus is the passage leading from the mouth to the stomach. GERD may lead to aspiration.
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The risk of these complications increases in newborns who are very small at birth.

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\n Prevent complications over your child\u2019s lifetime \n
- Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia - Living With

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You can take steps to help manage your child's BPD and help him or her recover.

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  • Try to prevent infection. Wash your hands often, and discourage visits from family and friends who are sick. Keep your baby away from large daycare centers and crowds to avoid colds, the flu, and other infections.
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  • Do not smoke in your home. Keep your baby away from cigarette smoke, dust, pollution, and other lung irritants.
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  • Make sure that your baby and your other children get their childhood vaccines and other treatments recommended by their doctors.
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  • Call your child's doctor if you see any signs of respiratory infection. These may include irritability, fever, stuffy nose, cough, changes in breathing patterns, and wheezing.
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\n Take care of your mental health \n
- Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia - Living With

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Caring for a premature newborn can be challenging. You may experience

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  • Emotional distress, including feelings of guilt, anger, and depression.
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  • Anxiety about your baby's future.
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  • A feeling of a lack of control over the situation.
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  • Financial stress.
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  • Problems relating to your baby while he or she is in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).
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  • fatigue .
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  • Frustration that you cannot breastfeed your newborn right away. You can pump and store your breast milk for later use.
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  • Complicated schedules that require you to give your child medicines regularly and keep frequent medical appointments.
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You can take steps to help yourself during this difficult time.

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  • Ask questions about your newborn's condition and what is involved in daily care. This will help you feel more confident about your ability to care for your baby at home.
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  • Learn as much as you can about what goes on in the NICU. You can help your baby during his or her stay there and begin to bond with the baby before he or she comes home.
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  • Seek out support from family, friends, and hospital staff. Ask the case manager or social worker at the hospital about what you'll need after your baby leaves the hospital. The doctors and nurses can assist with questions about your newborn's care. Also, you may want to ask whether your community has a support group for parents of premature newborns.
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  • Visit your baby in the NICU as much as possible. Spend time talking to your baby and holding and touching him or her.
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Syndicated Content Details:
Source URL: https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/subscribe/4180
Source Agency: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
Captured Date: 2019-07-01 16:23:00.0
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