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My Baby Girl Is 20 Days Old And Born Premature That Everything Is Normal And Prescribed Vitamin D-3 Forte .5ml A Day And 1 Ml Sodium Bicarbonate Twice A Day Is Safe Amount ?
Question: Hi sir. My baby girl is 20 days old and born premature at 34th week. Her weight was 2.1 kgs at the time of birth and now1.8 kgs. I have consulted a pediatrician and after examination, he suggested that everything is normal and prescribed vitamin D-3 forte .5ml a day and 1 ml sodium bicarbonate twice a day. I am confused about sodium bicarbonate injection. Is it safe to give it to an infant and 1ml twice a day is safe amount or not.Kindly suggest.
Brief Answer:
Sodium bicarbonate is best avoided in premature babies
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
I have reviewed your query and here is my advice.
Sodium bicarbonate is given to treat acidosis. I don't know the reason why its given.
Because of risk of water retention in body and its effect on heart, and increased risk of intraventricular hemorhage (brain) its best avoided in premature babies.
Hope this helps. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Dr Vaishalee
Sodium bicarbonate is best avoided in premature babies
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
I have reviewed your query and here is my advice.
Sodium bicarbonate is given to treat acidosis. I don't know the reason why its given.
Because of risk of water retention in body and its effect on heart, and increased risk of intraventricular hemorhage (brain) its best avoided in premature babies.
Hope this helps. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Dr Vaishalee
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vaishalee Punj
I have given it to her only once and that is of .8ml. Does it effect her. we are discontinuing from right now. Please respond.
Brief Answer:
Single dose does not harm
Detailed Answer:
Hi again
Thanks for reverting back.
I have seen the reports attached with a previous query. The baby was having some difficulty in breathing which can lead to acidosis (high acid level in blood). Most probably this was the reason for bicarbonate prescription.
I will suggest that you check the baby's arterial blood gas analysis at a reputed laboratory to know any acid-base imbalance in body. Decision on bicarbonate can be taken according to the report.
Single dose of bicarbonate does not harm the baby. Blood testing in babies also does not produce any harm to them.
Dr Vaishalee
Single dose does not harm
Detailed Answer:
Hi again
Thanks for reverting back.
I have seen the reports attached with a previous query. The baby was having some difficulty in breathing which can lead to acidosis (high acid level in blood). Most probably this was the reason for bicarbonate prescription.
I will suggest that you check the baby's arterial blood gas analysis at a reputed laboratory to know any acid-base imbalance in body. Decision on bicarbonate can be taken according to the report.
Single dose of bicarbonate does not harm the baby. Blood testing in babies also does not produce any harm to them.
Dr Vaishalee
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vaishalee Punj
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