What Is An Incubator And How Does It Work?

An incubator is a closed chamber that provides an environment that contributes to the growth of premature or newborn babies. It is made of transparent material, has padding to keep the child comfortable and has air intakes and windows.

It also has a monitoring system that allows doctors to see the baby’s weight, heart rate and brain activity in real time. It shows the readings and how the baby’s body reacts once a minute.

The functions of the incubator

Incubators must have certain characteristics in order to efficiently perform their main functions, which are:

• Power steering. This is a sensor that is attached to a child’s skin to measure the skin’s temperature. If it is low, the incubator automatically releases heat. If it is high, it does the opposite.
• Insulation. One of the most important tasks for these devices. The air filters prevent bacteria and allergens from the outside world from entering. This is an important feature for infants who have problems with their immune system.

• Humidity sensors. In the same way that the temperature is controlled, the appliance also measures the humidity. If it is very low, a child can become dehydrated.
• Source of oxygen. The incubator offers an environment with a high oxygen content, in order to prevent respiratory diseases in newborns.
• Assisted breathing. In severe cases where infants are unable to breathe on their own, they are placed in an incubator, and a pump helps them to breathe artificially.
• UV rays. The ultraviolet light, which is administered in moderate amounts in the incubator, helps to activate endogenous vitamin D and fight jaundice, which is the yellowish color seen in the skin of some newborns.

When is a child placed in an incubator?

As I said before, an incubator has all the functions required to monitor how a newborn develops. It also makes it possible for doctors to isolate the child from the threats from the outside world, which can otherwise cause complications in small and often defenseless children.

The most common cases where doctors place children in an incubator are the following:

• Premature babies: a baby born before the 37th week of pregnancy is considered premature. There can be several reasons for this, such as high blood pressure in the mother or complications in the last phase of pregnancy. The incubator allows doctors to protect the child until he or she has developed properly.
• Low birth weight: children weighing less than 2.5 kg at birth are considered underweight. It does not matter if they are born prematurely or not. The incubator protects the baby and at the same time provides it with the nutrients that the body needs.
• Difficulty maintaining the right temperature. An incubator has a constant temperature, so it helps to balance this inability until it develops properly.
• Deficiencies in the immune system. Until they develop the ability to defend themselves against pathogens, children – usually premature babies – can live in an environment free of bacteria and microbes that can be a threat to their health.

However, other circumstances may also arise that necessitate this incubation period:

• Bone fragility or muscle weakness.
• Lack of maturity in the lungs.
• Lack of sensory development.
• Lack of sucking reflex, which prevents the baby from breastfeeding himself.

What should I do if my child is placed in an incubator?

First of all, you should know that when infants are placed in an incubator, they are very well cared for. They are under constant surveillance, the incubator fully meets their needs and there is therefore no need to worry.

The fact that your child needs to be in an incubator for a few days does not necessarily mean that his or her health is in danger. The incubator is often used to help newborns “adapt to the world.” When the child has developed enough, he or she can return to his or her normal life.

Finally, visiting hours depend entirely on the hospital and also on each child’s individual state of health. The neonatology department usually has many restrictions, where visiting hours are kept to a minimum.

Try to be calm and patient. You will soon be able to take your child home and enjoy a completely normal life with him or her.