Premature birth is a birth taking place before 37 weeks of pregnancy. Premature babies have a higher risk of having health problems than babies born after 40 weeks of pregnancy. Yet, today, enables medicine to a baby born at only 30 weeks of life in an incubator with all the care needed to grow properly. We can even prolong pregnancy when we know that there are risks of premature birth. To do this, you will need plenty of rest and medical treatment. Medications called glucocorticoids, which are administered 24 hours before delivery, can help accelerate the maturity of the lungs and brains of children and thereby reduce risks.
What causes premature births?
Stress, maternal history, infections and bad habits like smoking, alcohol or other drugs may be responsible for premature birth. However, there is a very high percentage of cases that are of unknown cause.
Symptoms of premature birth
Contractions that cause hardening of the abdomen every 10 minutes or more
The color change in vaginal discharge or bleeding
The feeling that your baby grows
Mild pain in lower back
Abdominal pain sometimes accompanied by diarrhea
I feel that birth is premature. What should I do?
No rush if you have few symptoms. But the overwhelming evidence that you will give birth prematurely, rest, drink plenty of fluids (not coffee or soft drinks) and go straight to the hospital. There, the doctor will perform an internal examination of the cervix. If the cervix is dilated, it means that the work has already begun.