Why would a baby be put in an incubator?

Infant incubators are equipment shared by pediatric hospitals, delivery centers and neonatal intensive care units. Although the device may have several special functions, it is usually used to provide a safe and stable environment for newborns, who are usually born prematurely or suffer from diseases or disabilities, making them particularly vulnerable in the first few months of life. Why does a baby need an infant incubator? Let’s find out.

The following knowledge points are listed below:

• To provide protection

• To provide oxygenation

• Monitoring

• Other function

1.  To provide protection

Perhaps the most obvious function of baby incubators is to protect babies in their most vulnerable early stages. As a totally enclosed and controllable environment, the infant incubator can be used to protect babies from all possible dangers. The incubator is fully temperature controlled, can protect babies from harmful cold, and can isolate outside noise, making it easier for them to get a full and comfortable rest. The environment of the incubator can be kept sterile, protect babies from bacteria, and minimize the risk of infection. It also prevents allergens in the air. The cradle of the incubator is a spacious and comfortable surface, so it can keep the baby in place during many inspections and even simple medical procedures. This protects the baby from excessive processing, which can be a problem in some premature births.

2. To provide oxygenation

Oxygenation is a treatment process in which oxygen is given directly to promote breathing. Oxygenation is usually performed in an infant incubator environment as a treatment for infant respiratory distress syndrome. The syndrome is the leading cause of death in premature infants, affecting approximately 1% of other infants. Depending on the model of the incubator, one or more oxygenation devices can be built into the device, but most oxygenation devices are compatible with most incubators. A common method of oxygenation is to use a nasal cannula to deliver oxygen directly to the nostrils. Why avoid an environment with a small mask and oxygen around the baby's head? This is why doctors should avoid it. Another common method of treating preterm infants is continuous positive airway pressure.

3. Monitoring

Monitoring and observation equipment is usually built into the infant incubator. These instruments include heart monitors, brain scanning equipment, blood monitoring equipment, thermometers and other instruments for observing vital signs. Integrating this equipment in one place can minimize the need to move and carry the baby. In addition, due to the small and closed environment, some data such as temperature and heart rate can be accurately measured without the need for invasive instruments.

4. Other function

The incubator is a self-contained unit, about the size of a standard crib, with a transparent plastic dome. Because premature babies lack body fat and skin integrity, their ability to regulate their own body temperature is poor. For this reason, the incubator can adjust the temperature manually or automatically adjust the body temperature according to the change of the baby's body temperature to ensure ideal environmental conditions.But this is not the only function of the incubator. The incubator can also protect premature babies from infection, allergens, excessive noise or light intensity. It can adjust the air humidity, maintain the integrity of the skin, and even be equipped with special lights to treat the common neonatal jaundice of newborns.

In a word, although incubators look scary, they are important medical devices that provide a controlled environment for premature and sick babies. If there is no incubator, fewer and fewer babies will be able to survive in a difficult beginning. The incubator is really like a second uterus or a safety bubble surrounding the baby. Although being surrounded by an incubator in a neonatal intensive care unit can make you feel anxious, you may feel comforted when you know that the buzzing of electrical equipment means your baby is getting the oxygen and heat it needs.