4) Premature case studies Split the group into four. Give each group one of the case studies. Allow them to read the case and briefly summarise it to the rest of the group. Discuss the questions: ™ Does being born prematurely seem to affect children later in life? ™ Can you really tell what the quality of life is like for all the children in the case studies? ™ Who do you think might have written the case studies? = What are some of the medical complications when babies are born prematurely? = What kinds of disabilities are associated with premature birth? CEEVES4) Premature Case Studies Look at the case studies provided and answer the following questions: can being born prematurely seem to affect children later in life? can you really tell what the quality of life is like for all the children in the case studies? who do you think might have written the case studies? make a list of the medical complications these premature babies have? make a list of disabilities that are associated with premature birth? CEEVESCase study one Joanna Joanna was born at 26 weeks. She suffered from respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) due to a lack of surfactant in her lungs. This means the tiny air sacs (alveoli) in the lungs don’t stay open properly. Her lungs were not properly developed so she was taken to the special care baby unit. Joanna was put on a ventilator to help her breathe and given oxygen. She had to remain on oxygen treatment for 2 years. Her mother was trained to give Joanna oxygen at home when she left hospital. Although this treatment probably saved her life, it also damaged her lungs. Joanna suffers from chronic lung disease and will always have problems with her breathing. She couldn’t walk until she was 2 %. Now Joanna is 5 and seems to be catching up with the children around her both in physical and mental ability.Case study two Casey Casey was born at 28 weeks. She could not develop a sucking reflex to feed from her mother’s breasts. Casey had to be fed through a tube into her stomach. Her mother could not cuddle her for 6 weeks after she was born. Casey is now 8 and suffers from mild cerebral palsy and can walk with crutches. She has a slightly below average IQ but goes to a mainstream school.Case study three Robert Robert was born at 24 weeks. The doctors thought his chances for survival were not very good. When he went home he was still on oxygen. He had various complications at 7 months but he has overcome most of these difficulties. Now he is nine years old, Robert sometimes has trouble breathing but he enjoys playing football. He goes to a mainstream school, but needs a bit of extra help with his lessons.Case study four Paul Paul suffered from a lack of oxygen during a difficult birth at 26 weeks and then suffered a brain haemorrhage (bleeding in the brain). He did not leave hospital until he was over a year old. Paul suffers from severe cerebral palsy and will probably never be able to walk or stand up by himself. He cannot talk yet but can communicate using his eyes (blinking and looking in different directions). His parents need helpers to look after him as he needs 24 hour care. Fact Box Cerebral palsy usually occurs before the baby reaches 1 month old. It happens when the brain is injured during foetal development or birth. Usually the person cannot control their muscles properly. It is a non-progressive disorder; this means it will not get better or worse.