Even if you do everything right during pregnancy, you can still give birth early. We do know some things may make you more likely than others to have preterm labor and premature birth.
These are called risk factors. But it may increase your chances. Talk to your health care provider about what you can do to help reduce your risk. Because many premature babies are born with low birthweight , many risk factors for preterm labor and premature birth are the same as for having a low-birthweight baby.
Low birthweight is when a baby is born weighing less than 5 pounds, 8 ounces. These three risk factors make you most likely to have preterm labor and give birth early:.
Having certain health conditions during pregnancy can increase your risk for preterm labor and premature birth, including:. Being younger than 17 or older than 35 makes you more likely than other women to give birth early. In the United States, black women are more likely to give birth early. Almost 17 percent of black babies are born prematurely each year.
Yes, you may be able to reduce your risk for early labor and birth. Others are things you can do something about, like quitting smoking. See also: Signs and symptoms of preterm labor infographic. If they do not ask, tell them about the baby's movements. Slowing down labour or stopping it is not appropriate in all circumstances — your midwife or doctor can discuss your situation with you.
They will consider:. You may be offered a course of steroid injections to help your baby's lungs get ready for breathing if they're born prematurely. Steroids may not be offered after 36 weeks as your baby's lungs are likely to be ready for breathing on their own. If you're in premature labour and you're 24 to 29 weeks pregnant you should be offered magnesium sulphate. This can help protect your baby's brain development.
You may also be offered it if you're in labour and 30 to 33 weeks pregnant. This is to protect your baby against problems linked to being born too soon, such as cerebral palsy. If you take magnesium sulphate for more than 5 to 7 days or several times during your pregnancy, your newborn baby may be offered extra checks. This is because prolonged use of magnesium sulphate in pregnancy has in rare cases been linked to bone problems in newborn babies.
Your midwife or doctor will offer the choice of 2 treatments and they should discuss the risks and benefits with you. Babies born before full term before 37 weeks are vulnerable to problems associated with being born premature. Very premature babies are at a higher risk of developmental problems.
It is possible for babies born at 23 to 24 weeks to survive, but it is risky. Most babies born before 32 weeks, and those weighing 2. Babies born between 32 and 37 weeks may need care in a special care nursery SCN.
The cause of premature birth is unknown in about half of all cases. However, some of the reasons babies are born prematurely include:. It may be possible to slow down or stop the labour. But each day the baby stays inside your womb, the greater their chance of survival.
It is best for very premature babies to be born at a hospital that has an NICU. If the hospital where the baby is born does not have an NICU, you and your baby may be transferred to another hospital. When you are in labour, you may be given medicines to stop the contractions for a while. This allows you to be transferred to another hospital if necessary.
Premature babies can be born very quickly. They will usually be born through the vagina. However, in some cases the doctor may decide it is safest to deliver the baby via caesarean.
Your doctor will discuss this decision with you. A medical team from the neonatal newborn unit will be there for the birth. As soon as your baby is born, they will care for the baby in your room, possibly using a neonatal baby resuscitation bed. The team will keep your baby warm and help them to breathe with an oxygen mask or breathing tube, and possibly medicine. Some babies need help to keep their heart beating with cardio-pulmonary resuscitation CPR or an injection of adrenalin.
Babies born at 36 to 37 weeks usually look like small full-term babies. Very premature babies will be small perhaps fitting in your hand and look very fragile.
Long-term problems may include developmental delay not meeting the developmental milestones for his or her age and lower performance in school.
Reducing preterm birth is a national public health priority. However, racial and ethnic differences in preterm birth rates remain. In , the rate of preterm birth among non-Hispanic black women Some things called risk factors can increase the chance that a woman will have a preterm birth.
However, a woman can still have a premature birth even if she has no known risk factors. Some risk factors for preterm birth include delivering a premature baby in the past, being pregnant with multiples, tobacco use and substance abuse, and short time less than 18 months between pregnancies. Additionally, pregnancy complications can result in preterm birth because the baby has to be delivered early. In most cases, preterm labor labor that happens too soon, before 37 weeks of pregnancy begins unexpectedly and the cause is unknown.
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