Know In Details About Premature Birth (Preterm Birth)

What is Premature Birth?

Most of the pregnancies usually last for 40 weeks. However, in certain cases, labor pain may begin before the onset of 37’Th week of pregnancy as uterine contractions compel the cervix to open earlier than the standard time. In such situations, when the baby is born before the gestation period, it is referred as premature birth.

Also known as preterm birth, premature birth puts the baby at a risk of various health problems as the baby does not get enough time in the womb to develop and mature efficiently. However, the babies born around the 36’th or 37’th are usually free from serious complexities in comparison to the babies born much before the due date. It must be mentioned that the babies who have a premature birth before 24 weeks of the pregnancy period, features fewer chances of survival.

What are the Causes of Premature Birth?

It is really very difficult to predict which mother will have a premature birth. In many cases, most of the premature births happen without any specific reason.

However, there are certain specific causes, which increase the chances of premature birth. Some of the causes are mentioned below –

Infection

Around 40% of the premature birth is usually the cause of infections. Many expecting mothers do not demonstrate any signs of infections such as fevers.

Stretching of the uterus

Over distension or stretching of the uterus is also a probable reason behind the occurrence of premature birth. However, such a situation may be a cause of multiple pregnancies, fibroids, as well as the presence of excess amniotic fluid.

Bleeding

Bleeding causes include placental abruption where the placenta gets de-attached from the uterine wall and gives way to bleeding.

Preeclampsia

Preeclampsia is a complicated situation characterized with high blood pressure. A woman with preeclampsia besides having high blood pressure, also retains excessive fluid as well as discharges urine into the blood.

Antepartum hemorrhage

Antepartum hemorrhage is nothing but a situation of continuous vaginal bleeding from the 28’Th week of pregnancy.

Congenital Birth defects

Congenital birth defect in the child is also known to lead to lead to premature birth.

What Increases the Risk of Premature Birth?

Any woman can give birth to a premature baby, but few women are at an increased risk in comparison to others. Doctors have identified certain risk factors, which give way to premature birth. Some of the factors are mentioned below –

• Carrying of more than one baby in the womb. Around 50% of twins and triplets are usually born early.
• The mother has already had a premature birth before.
• The mother smokes, or drinks alcohol or is addicted to drugs.
• The mother features an infection in the uterus or the birth canal.
• The mother is above 35 years of age.
• Presence of chronic illness such as diabetes, high blood pressure or kidney disease.
• Short duration between pregnancies such as six to nine months between a birth and starting of the next pregnancy.
• Prolonged working hours with continuous standing.
• High level of stress marked with poor lifestyle.
• Being underweight before pregnancy.

Consequences Associated with Premature Birth

There exist several long-term as well as short-term consequences associated with premature birth. Many of these are very serious, whereas many are minor and can be easily rectified with proper medical treatment.

The common consequences are mentioned below –

Short term consequences

• Low blood pressure
• Anemia characterized by inadequate count of red blood cells
• Situation of apnea where the baby stops breathing for 20 seconds or more.
• Intraventricular hemorrhage where bleeding starts occurring in the brain
• The chances of jaundice among premature babies are greater due to the inability of the body to eliminate a waste product named as bilirubin present in blood.

Long term consequences

Long term consequences are more likely to occur in babies who are born before the 26’th week of pregnancy or babies who are extremely low in weight.

Blindness

Hearing loss

Cerebral palsy or mental retardation

Disability to learn effectively

Delayed overall growth as well as development

Physical or mental disability

Prevention of Premature Birth

Early and efficient prenatal care is the ideal way to prevent premature birth. Needless to be mentioned, but early diagnosis of the complications and proper treatment decreases the chances of premature birth.

Below is a list of lookout symptoms, recognition of which at the right time is known to prevent premature birth –

Occurrence of contractions around eight times or more every hour. The contractions are characterized with tightening sensation in the stomach.

Dull and low backache

Pain or pressure in the pelvic region

Vaginal bleeding or spotting

Diarrhea

Watery kind of discharge from the vagina.

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