A incubator It is a device used to give life support to newborn babies, whether premature or at term, who are not ready to adapt to the extrauterine environment.
There are several types of incubators, the most used are closed incubators that are shaped like a glass box connected to various devices, these have holes that allow the hands to be inserted to manipulate the newborn, as well as facilitating the entry and exit of instruments and equipment.
The main function of an incubator is to provide heat so that the baby maintains its temperature within normal values, thus preventing the drop in temperature known as hypothermia from occurring. These teams also fulfill important functions when it comes to providing life support to neonates in intensive care units.
Incubators allow you to maintain the temperature of newborns
During its development, the fetus maintains a temperature of 37 °C that is regulated by the mother. At the time of birth, the hypothalamus, which is the area of the brain responsible for controlling body temperature, is immature, so the newborn can develop a drop in temperature or hypothermia if it is not adequately covered, which can lead to serious consequences.
When for any reason the newborn needs to stay in the hospital after birth, it needs to be placed in an environment with a suitable temperature, and this is the main function of incubators. These devices have a sensor that is placed directly on the baby’s skin, this allows you to record your temperature and emit more or less heat to keep it within adequate levels.
Support functions carried out by incubators
The incubators are designed to allow the baby to be handled without removing it from inside, allowing various actions to be carried out, including:
-Isolation. Newborns have an immature immune system that is not prepared to deal with microorganisms in their environment, so the closed space of the incubator provides them with protection and isolation similar to what they had inside the mother’s womb, this is especially useful. in immunosuppressed newborns.
-Take control of the weight. The incubators have a monitor that makes it possible to keep a continuous record of the newborn’s weight, which is very important when evaluating hydration, fluid retention states, and the nutritional status of the newborn.
-Treat jaundice. Some newborns acquire a yellow color in the first days of life due to increased levels of bilirubin in their blood, this occurs when the baby’s blood is of a different type than its mother’s and is treated with the application of ultraviolet light that is available in all incubators.
– Supply oxygen. Newborns born with respiratory problems may require oxygen supply, so the concentration of it inside the incubator can be increased, which is much easier and more practical than putting masks or nose mustaches on the baby.
– Monitoring of the different parameters. The incubators also allow monitoring vital functions of the baby’s body such as the activity of his heart, his brain and his breathing.
Photos: Fotolia – Olesia Bilkei / Sweetlemontea
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