Prematurity Terms & Acronyms
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Chronological Age - Actual age based on date of birth
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Adjusted Age/Corrected Age - subtracting how may weeks premature baby was born from their chronological age. For example, if baby's chronological age is 20 weeks, but s/he was born 6 weeks premature, you subtract the number of weeks premature (six ) from their chronological age of 20 weeks to get an adjusted age of 14 weeks, or 3.5 months adjusted
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Apnea - a pause in breathing
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Apeneic - used to described a baby experiencing apnea
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Oral Aversions - negative association or response to anything placed in the mouth
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Aspiration - inhaling of meconium, food, medicine, or other foreign object
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Hand-bagging - pumping breaths into the preemies's lungs by using a resuscitation bag and mask
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Bag-Mask Ventilation - face mask placed over preemie's face and mouth used to breathe for baby
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Premature/Prematurity - a term for a baby born before 38 weeks of gestation also called preterm
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BPD - Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia also known as Chronic Lung Disease (CLD) most common among preemie's who needed prolonged medical ventilation
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CBC - Complete Blood Count
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Developmental Care/Family-Centered Care - used in NICUs to decrease the stress experience of NICU on preemies
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Culture - a lab test used to detect infections
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Developmental Delays - failure to meet certain developmental milestones like rolling over, crawling, pulling up, etc at the average age expected
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Developmental Pediatrician - assesses, keeps up with, and treat problems dealing with the development of preemies
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EI - Early Intervention Program
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ELBW - Extremely Low Birth Weight
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VLBW - Very Low Birth Weight
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LBW - Low Birth Weight
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Blood Gas - small amount of blood to determine oxygen level of preemies.
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NICU - Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
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Incubator/Isolette - warmer to stabilize body temperature
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Cardiorespiratory Monitor (also known as leads) used to track the baby's heart rate
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Pulse Oximeter - attached to foot of baby to tell how well baby is using available oxygen
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IV Line - Intravenous Line used to provide needed fluids and medication to baby
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PICC - Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter
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Mechanical Ventilation also called a respirator
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ET Tube - Endotracheal Tube
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Failure to Thrive
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Gavage Feeding - small tube placed in the nose or mouth to the stomach to feed baby
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HFV - High Frequency Ventilation
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IUGR - Intrauterine Growth Retardation
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Intubation - tube through the mouth down the throat into the windpipe for baby's having difficulty breathing
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Kangaroo Care (Skin-to-Skin) - placing and holding a baby on your naked chest
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Late Preterm - baby born 3-6 weeks early or 34-36 weeks gestation
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LP - Lumbar Puncture
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Mircopreemie - baby born less than 27 weeks gestation
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Moderately Premature - baby born between start of 32 and end of 33 weeks gestation
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PDA - Patent Ductus Arteriosus
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RDS - Respiratory Distress Syndrome
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RSV - Respiratory Syncytial Virus
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ROP - Retinopathy of Prematurity
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Sepsis- blood infection
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SGA - Small for Gestational Age
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TPN - Total Parenteral Nutrition
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Bradyacardia - decrease of heart rate less than 100
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IVH - Intraventricular Hemorrhage also known as a brain bleed ranging from Grade 1 (least severe) to Grade 4 (most severe)
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Cannula/Nasal Cannula - soft, plastic tubing around the baby's face that has openings that insert into baby's nostrils to deliver oxygen
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Preemie - a preterm or premature baby
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CPAP - Continuous Positive Airway Pressure