How Advances in Technology Have Improved the Infant Mortality Rate

Health ⯀  

The infant mortality rate has decreased in recent years thanks to advances in technology. Several new pieces of equipment have been developed to help babies who experience complications during delivery or while still in the womb. 

Here are a few ways that modern technology has decreased the infant mortality rate.

Better Baby Monitoring

When parents take their babies home from the hospital, it is especially important to monitor these little ones closely in the first few weeks of life to make sure that no health complications arise. Baby monitors are devices that can be placed in babies’ rooms so that parents can listen in on breathing and crying patterns. This provides an effective way to lower the chances of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Some monitors even have alarms that send out alerts when a baby’s breathing is impaired. There are also monitors that allow parents to see video images of their newborns.

Less Fetal Distress

Fetal distress happens when a baby is deprived of oxygen before or during labor. A vacuum section device can now be used to deliver a baby quickly to avoid many of the problems that are associated with fetal distress. Vacuum suction is now often used in place of forceps. Even though these devices are generally safe, they can cause problems for babies if they are not used correctly by doctors. If complications arise because of improper usage of vacuum suction, a birth injury attorney can always offer legal advice.

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Creating a Womb-Like Environment

Technology has even made it possible for doctors to create womb-like environments for newborns that arrive prematurely. According to R&D Magazine, researchers have created a system that mimics a womb and stimulates prenatal fluid. This prenatal fluid is essential for the development of healthy organs and tissues. The system also gives enough fluid to a baby’s lungs, which is needed for proper breathing. As of 2017, this system has only been tested on animals but could be available for human babies in the near future.

Preterm Labor Prevention

Babies that are delivered early have greater chances of experiencing health problems that could lead to death. In addition to infant mortality, preterm births often cause birth defects and cognitive impairments in children. Preterm labor can often be prevented by reducing the melatonin levels in expecting mothers. Light-emitting devices that have been developed in recent years can shine quick flashes of blue light into the eyes of pregnant women while they sleep to decrease melatonin production. Lower melatonin levels can delay birth by controlling contractions that may result in premature delivery.

Infant mortality rates will likely continue to see a steady decline as technology improves even more in the future. These technological advances give parents greater hope for having healthy babies.

By  Hannah Whittenly	Embed
Author Bio - Hannah Whittenly is a freelance writer and mother of two from Sacramento, California.