Riley Nold was born on April 23, 2002 and seemed to be a vigorous, normal baby until he was found to have congenital heart disease at two days old. Similar to most families, the Nolds had hopes and dreams of delivering a healthy baby boy, but the unexpected occurred, and Riley had to spend critical weeks in the neonatal intensive care unit. “Approximately 12 percent of all neonates in the United States require admission to the NICU” (Rizzo). When giving birth to a child, the majority of parents expect to have an ordinary delivery and a healthy child. However, many infants are diagnosed with illnesses, abnormalities, or diseases after birth. During Riley’s stay in the intensive care unit, he was cared for by multiple physicians, including
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One of a neonatologist’s greatest challenges is working with pre-term infants. Depending upon the term of the pregnancy, these children often have to receive medical attention right after birth. “Nearly 15 percent of surviving preterm infants whose birth weights were less than 2,000 grams have serious physical and mental disabilities after discharge” (Rizzo). These newborns are more likely to be diagnosed with these severe physical or mental abnormalities because their organs and other vital systems are not fully developed. Some of these abnormalities could include congenital heart disease, respiratory distress syndrome, patent ductus arteriosus, retinopathy of prematurity, or air leaks. When not developed fully, the immune system of a premature infant does not have the functioning protective cells that would provide defense from these illnesses that the baby might develop. Each day the premature infant survives, the immune system becomes steadily stronger and is able to fight off more viruses and bacteria. Besides the immune system, there are many other vital organs that are not fully developed or cannot function by themselves when an infant is premature. These vital organs include: the brain, lungs, liver, stomach, and intestines. Most of these organs also require constant monitoring when they aren’t functioning correctly. Neonatologists have to work quickly after the premature infant is born in order to ensure that he or she can live as a normal, full-term infant
One of a neonatologist’s greatest challenges is working with pre-term infants. Depending upon the term of the pregnancy, these children often have to receive medical attention right after birth. “Nearly 15 percent of surviving preterm infants whose birth weights were less than 2,000 grams have serious physical and mental disabilities after discharge” (Rizzo). These newborns are more likely to be diagnosed with these severe physical or mental abnormalities because their organs and other vital systems are not fully developed. Some of these abnormalities could include congenital heart disease, respiratory distress syndrome, patent ductus arteriosus, retinopathy of prematurity, or air leaks. When not developed fully, the immune system of a premature infant does not have the functioning protective cells that would provide defense from these illnesses that the baby might develop. Each day the premature infant survives, the immune system becomes steadily stronger and is able to fight off more viruses and bacteria. Besides the immune system, there are many other vital organs that are not fully developed or cannot function by themselves when an infant is premature. These vital organs include: the brain, lungs, liver, stomach, and intestines. Most of these organs also require constant monitoring when they aren’t functioning correctly. Neonatologists have to work quickly after the premature infant is born in order to ensure that he or she can live as a normal, full-term infant