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The beginning of Incubators
French Physicians introduced the first closed infant incubator in the 1880's due to the overall dismal of french infant mortality rates.
https://www.nursing.upenn.edu/nhhc/nurses-institutions-caring/care-of-premature-infants/ -
Dr. Couney
Dr. Couney offered incubator treatment free of charge for premature infants. he displayed the babies at a sideshow at Coney island.
https://www.nicuawareness.org/blog/a-brief-history-of-advances-in-neonatal-care -
Pre-NICU
Pierre-Constant Budin was a pioneer in the care of at risk babies.He encouraged new mothers about proper nutrition and hygiene for their babies.
https://www.nicuawareness.org/blog/a-brief-history-of-advances-in-neonatal-care
https://www.nursing.upenn.edu/nhhc/nurses-institutions-caring/care-of-premature-infants/ -
Premature infant care in the US
By the early 1920, Premature infant care in the US was at crossroads. The care was based mainly at home but in the next two decades it went from home-based to hospitalized.
https://www.nursing.upenn.edu/nhhc/nurses-institutions-caring/care-of-premature-infants/ -
When did Neonatal Nursing begin?
A Century ago, most sickly and premature infants were sent home without any special interventions. The first neonatal intensive care units did not even appear in america hospitals until 1922
https://www.nicuawareness.org/blog/a-brief-history-of-advances-in-neonatal-care -
Premature infant care expands
In 1922, two events placed premature care permanently within the realm of Physician-directed and hospital-based nurseries.at Michael Reese hospital they separated premature infants from the "normal" infants.
The second event, there was the publication of the first major American textbook devoted to the care of premature infants.
https://www.nursing.upenn.edu/nhhc/nurses-institutions-caring/care-of-premature-infants/ -
Expansion
In the 1930's, premature care expanded, and doctors found even more ways to ensure survival of smaller babies.
https://www.nursing.upenn.edu/nhhc/nurses-institutions-caring/care-of-premature-infants/ -
The World War II Era and Beyond
During this Era, when the US entered World War II they postponed many public health efforts to help benefit Premiees.
https://www.nursing.upenn.edu/nhhc/nurses-institutions-caring/care-of-premature-infants/ -
Better care
Smaller and more Premature babies were saved due to the increase of Technological treatments.
https://www.nursing.upenn.edu/nhhc/nurses-institutions-caring/care-of-premature-infants/ -
Publicity of Premature infants
In 1963, Jacqueline Kennedy, the wife of John F. Kennedy, gave birth to a son several weeks early. The baby died a few days after birth due to Neonatal respiratory distress syndrome. the birth and death of an admired president's baby brought the issue of prematurity.
https://www.nursing.upenn.edu/nhhc/nurses-institutions-caring/care-of-premature-infants/ -
Ventilators
Prior to 1970, Babies born more than 3 months premature died as they lacked the ability to breath on there own. Reliable mechanical ventilators for those infants didn't exist. -
Complications
By the mid 1980's babies born as early as twenty-four weeks could survive their early entry into the world with ventilators,warming beds, and effective medical and nursing care. The complications was they frequently lacked sufficient levels of surfactant. the lungs don't produce surfactant until 30 weeks into pregnancy.
https://www.nursing.upenn.edu/nhhc/nurses-institutions-caring/care-of-premature-infants/ -
Recent care for babies
In the late 1990's, Neonatal intensive care was available for babies in almost every country. At the beginning of the twenty-first century, research and innovation continue to transform the lives of these babies.
https://www.nursing.upenn.edu/nhhc/nurses-institutions-caring/care-of-premature-infants/ -
The 90's
The 90's was also a time when the limits of viability for preemies. Medical professionals stalled at about twenty-two to twenty-four weeks of gestation time, babies born at that time was chose to be resuscitated or they died.
https://www.nursing.upenn.edu/nhhc/nurses-institutions-caring/care-of-premature-infants/ -
Twenty-first Century
Research and innovations continue to save and transform lives of premature babies. That gives them more potential to a healthy,long,and possibly a notable life.
