Everything about preterm birth that interests you

Preterm birth is a very common problem. However, it is essential to know the reasons and risks that your baby faces when he is born too early. This will help you to prevent this situation better.

Nowadays, obstetricians can predict preterm birth based on signals and advice for you. This situation will be controlled if you detect it in time.

You have a perfect pregnancy but are still likely to be born prematurely in the months near the end. When a pregnant woman knows it is possible to give birth prematurely, the first thing probably everyone thinks about why and begins to blame herself: “What did I do wrong? I should have done it earlier and it won't lead to this situation ”or“ Will baby be all right? ”. Don't worry and blame yourself because preterm birth is possible for anyone.

What is preterm birth?

This is a term that refers to a baby being born too early than expected. If it's just a few days or a few weeks earlier, there's no problem. However, if you go into labor at 7 or 8 months, both mother and baby will face many risks. Preterm birth is usually categorized as follows:

Extremely premature birth at less than 28 weeks' gestation

Very premature birth at 28 - 32 weeks gestation

Late birth at 33 - 36 weeks gestation.

Who often suffer from premature birth?

Black women have a higher risk of having a preterm birth (premature birth) than others. But any pregnant woman can be born prematurely. In fact, many women give birth prematurely while they have no risk factors.

You can control this condition by minimizing your risk factors. Consult your doctor for more details.

The cause of premature birth

1. Vaginal infections

If a woman has a vaginal infection, she has a very high risk of preterm birth. As the growth of bacteria in the body weakens the fetal membrane, amniotic fluid is affected. So the amniotic fluid bag can break at any time. Some infections that often cause premature birth include a vaginal infection (BV) (an infection caused when too many bacteria change the bacterial balance in the vagina). Some of the symptoms you will experience if you have this infection:

Burning sensation when urinating

Vaginal discharge is white or gray in color

Skin in the genital area appears redness.

Some other infections you may also experience such as Chlamydia , trichomoniosis and gonorrhea can also lead to preterm delivery.

2. Have a history of preterm birth

If you had a preterm birth last time, you run the risk of experiencing it again. Your doctor will give you a tonic and ask you to get plenty of rest to reduce your risk. In this case, consult your doctor before you want to have another baby.

3. Health complications

Health problems a mother experiences during pregnancy such as diabetes, high blood pressure, pre-eclampsia or blood clots, and heart problems can also lead to preterm birth. If you have medical complications, your doctor will order a cesarean section. If you continue the pregnancy for a few more days, it may adversely affect both mother and baby.

4. Sedentary lifestyle

Women with unhealthy lifestyles, low weight, pre-pregnancy suffering from malnutrition or bad habits like smoking, alcoholism, stress or excessive anxiety can also lead to premature birth.

5. Multiple pregnancy

Mothers choosing a method of pregnancy with in vitro fertilization or pregnancy with twins and triplets can lead to this condition. When you're pregnant with multiple pregnancies, your doctor will advise you on how to take good care of your baby.

6. The interval between pregnancies is too short

If you conceive within 6 - 9 months after giving birth, it is very likely to lead to premature birth. Women need to rest for 11 - 12 months before their next pregnancy to avoid birth defects, low birth weight or premature birth.

However, there are also some cases of preterm birth with no known cause. Whatever the cause, premature babies face a number of health complications.

Risks of premature birth

These children will have the ability to face risks such as breathing, hearing, eyesight, low weight ... In addition, the baby will also be at risk of cerebral palsy, even more serious can lead to death. death.

1. Difficulty breathing

The biggest problem most premature babies have is breathing. The lungs are one of the last to complete during pregnancy. If your baby is born before his lungs are fully developed, he or she will experience breathing problems. Babies born before 35 weeks are more likely to have this condition. If the baby does not provide oxygen in time, the body's organs will also be affected.

2. Heart problems

PDA and low blood pressure are the two most common diseases in preterm infants. If these two diseases are not treated in time, it can lead to heart failure.

3. Brain problems

If your baby is born before 28 weeks, your baby is at increased risk of brain hemorrhage. However, don't worry too much as this can be treated. However, if the bleeding is too much, the baby will have permanent brain damage. This will affect brain development in the future.

4. Do not self-regulate your body temperature

Most premature babies lack fat. This makes the baby's body unable to regulate its own temperature, leading to hypothermia. Besides, premature babies devote all their energy to keeping warm, so it will be difficult for babies to gain weight and develop. That is why premature babies are often kept in incubators.

5. Stomach - intestinal problems

Premature babies are also more likely to develop ultraviolet enteritis (NEC). This is a potentially dangerous condition that often occurs when a baby begins to breastfeed. Breastfed premature babies are less likely to have this disease.

6. Blood problem

Babies born prematurely are more likely to develop blood related conditions such as anemia and jaundice. Both of these problems are common and do not require too much medical intervention.

7. Weakened immune system

Infants often have weak immune systems , but premature babies are even weaker, making it easy to cope with dangerous situations. Even if your baby only has a simple infection, you should take him or her to the hospital immediately. This is why it is advisable to keep your baby at home until his or her immune system is developing better.

8. Brain failure

Cerebral palsy is a common disease in premature babies. Babies with cerebral palsy often have symptoms such as loss of function in the extremities, inability to move, abnormal posture due to poor blood circulation to the brain and slow oxygen supply.

9. Retarded

Don't compare the development of a premature baby with a full term baby. Babies born prematurely usually develop quite slowly and sometimes face learning and behavior problems.

10. Vision

Retinopathy of premature babies (ROP) is another problem that babies born before 30 weeks of age can experience. This disease is caused by abnormal growth of blood vessels in the retina of the eye. If not detected and treated in time can lead to blindness.

11. Hearing

Babies born prematurely are more likely to experience hearing problems. Therefore, you must check your baby's hearing carefully.

12. Chronic diseases

Premature babies are very susceptible to chronic illnesses such as asthma, digestive problems, sudden death syndrome, stomach problems and chronic infections.

13. Low survival rate

Most babies are born too soon compared to their intended intravenous supply of nutrients because they are too young to be able to suck, swallow and breathe at the same time. Approximately 80% of premature babies survive, while the rest are more likely to die from infections.

What are the symptoms of preterm birth?

Call your doctor at once if any of the following symptoms occur before week 37:

Vaginal discharge is more than usual. This means that your vaginal discharge will become more loose, slimy or bloody;

Occurrence of vaginal bleeding. You may experience cramping, cramping similar to menstrual cramps or pain with contractions more than four times in an hour;

Increased pressure in the pelvic area. You will experience low back pain, especially cyclical pain, or no back pain before.

What methods are used to treat premature babies?

The doctor may use a number of medications to treat the baby to promote development and stimulate normal function of the lungs, heart, and circulation. Depending on your baby's condition, medications may include:

Surfactant

Spray or intravenous infusion to enhance breathing and heart rate

Antibiotics if there is an infection or if there is a risk of infection

Medications that increase the amount of urine (diuretics) support the lungs and circulatory system

When specific complications do arise, a doctor sometimes needs to perform surgery on your child to treat:

Eating problem: by placing the central venous line to provide vein nutrition

Necrotizing enterocolitis: removal of the damaged bowel

Premature retinopathy: uses lasers to limit abnormal blood vessel growth and vision risks

Hydrocephalus : shunt is placed to drain excess fluid in the brain

How to reduce the risk of preterm birth?

First of all, you must take good care of yourself throughout your pregnancy. During pregnancy, you need to have a balanced diet, a healthy living environment and avoid stress.

You need monthly prenatal check-ups so your doctor can monitor your physical and mental health and can guide you better. Usually, women who do not have good health care are more likely to fall into this situation. Regular checkups will help you manage infection, blood pressure and other illnesses.

In fact, many pregnant women often do not care about oral health during pregnancy. However, if pregnant women suffer from dental diseases, it is very easy to be born prematurely. So, remember to clean your teeth and have regular dental check-ups.

Make sure your daily diet is rich in fruits and vegetables. Drink plenty of fluids and control your weight.

In addition, you should also exercise regularly every day. Practicing yoga also reduces the risk of preterm birth. Walking, meditating, and other exercises can also be beneficial for you.

If you think you are at high risk for preterm birth, talk to your doctor right away. Your body is always on clear signs. If in doubt, share it with your doctor to get helpful advice.