Premature birth, what does that mean?
Your baby is premature if born before the 37th week of pregnancy. Most premature babies born after 32 weeks pregnant and have a good chance to survive and grow up healthy.
In general, the higher your pregnancy is nearing completion at the time of birth, your baby will better. His organs will be more mature, better prepared her lungs breathing and your baby will have more strength to suckle and feed.
Very premature babies, babies born before 28 weeks, have a good chance of survival, but about half have a disability, such as cerebral palsy (BMI) and about 20% have learning difficulties. Unfortunately, babies born before 23 or 24 weeks have little chance of survival.
Is there a lot of premature births?
About 7% of babies are born prematurely each year, including 1.5% before 32 weeks and 0.4% before 28 weeks.
If you're healthy and your pregnancy goes well, you have little chance of giving birth prematurely. Only 2% of women with normal pregnancy gives birth prematurely. .
What causes a premature birth?
Sometimes there is no explanation! We do know that certain factors play an important role in prematurity.
If you are pregnant with twins or triplets, you could give birth earlier than if you wore one child. If you have ever had a premature baby, you have a slightly higher risk of premature delivery. By cons, among these women, four out of five will conduct their next pregnancy to term.
Social factors are also something. Girls under 16 who have little support are more likely to have a premature baby. The age, social class, education and type of employment of the mother (eg, if she spent several hours standing or if the work requires an intense effort) affect the risk of having her child prematurely. Note that employers have a responsibility to protect pregnant women and prevent them to have unsafe working conditions. If you have concerns about the efforts that your job application, find out about your rights.
Take care of yourself can help reduce your risk of premature delivery. Smoking or using drugs are associated with risk of giving birth prematurely, as a weight below the normal body mass index.
Other causes of premature labor include:
A bacterial vaginal infection: If you have any unusual discharge, see your doctor
- heavy bleeding during pregnancy
- an abnormality of the uterus
- a weakness in the cervical
- loss of water before term
Can a baby should be born earlier than expected for health reasons?
Sometimes, premature birth is planned because the doctor deems necessary for medical reasons. The doctor may cause birth or having Caesarean section. It is estimated that a premature birth in five runs as well.
Premature birth can be seen by the doctor if the baby:
- not growing as it should in the uterus
- an abnormality
- or if the future mom:
a disease that puts the health of her baby at risk as a urinary tract infection untreated, toxoplasmosis, rubella, cytomegalovirus infection (CMV))
had trauma to the abdomen, like a blow in the stomach
pre-eclampsia
It is important to emphasize that being affected by one or more of these factors does not mean that the baby is born prematurely, but simply that the risk increases.
What if the work starts earlier than expected?
Water loss, bleeding, loss of mucus plug or contractions are signs of early labor. If any of these signs occur before the 37th week of pregnancy, call your midwife or your doctor or your hospital's maternity. If you are not certain whether the onset of labor, you say that prevention is better than cure.
We will notify you probably go to the hospital. Ask a friend to take you there. If this is impossible and that you are not able to drive, call an ambulance.
Once in hospital, what happens?
You might feel a little lost due to any medical attention you receive, coupled with the fear of giving birth earlier than expected. To make the experience a little less stressful and understand what happens, it is important that you and your partner ask nurses and doctors to explain the situation.
Initially, medical staff will ask you to describe what was happening and want to know if you have experienced something similar during a previous pregnancy. You will be examined and may have a vaginal examination. You will probably have an ultrasound to see if the cervix has thinned and if it is expanded in preparation for childbirth. Other tests may be prescribed as a urine test to rule out a urinary tract infection or blood tests to determine your blood type and screen for possible infection.
It may also conduct a test for fetal fibronectin using a vaginal frotti to detect the presence of a protein called fetal fibronectin (FFN) in vaginal secretions. This analysis can better assess whether there will be a risk of preterm delivery in the coming weeks.
If you do not have water broke and that the work has not started, you will probably be allowed to return home yourself.
What happens if my work has really started?
If the phase of work began, he could still stop himself. This is what happens in half the cases. However, if the work is in progress, there is not much anyone can do to stop it. However, doctors may try to slow it down, time to get an injection of steroids which help mature the lungs of your baby.
If you think you have lost water, the liquid could be tested for the presence of the protein fetal fibronectin, the presence of this protein at this stage of pregnancy is often associated with premature birth. Your doctor may order a test called "fern test" to determine whether the liquid is indeed amniotic fluid. You will be also a test to see if you are carrying the bacteria streptococcus group B. If this bacterium is present in your vagina, you will be given antibiotics before delivery to avoid the risk of infection for your baby. Since the results of this test are generally not available for several days, you may be administered when the same antibiotics as a precaution because your status is "uncertain."
The heart beat of your baby will be monitored. If you want to take painkillers, you will be advised not to take Demerol or other similar drugs because they can affect your baby's breathing. The best option would be an epidural.
If you are under 34 weeks of pregnancy, your doctor will do a steroid injection to help the maturation of your baby's lungs and a drug to delay slightly the birth.
You have a good chance of having a vaginal birth. If you are over 34 weeks pregnant, your doctor will probably let the work continue at your own pace. Although it is small, your baby has a good chance to do well.
However, a caesarean may be necessary if there are complications, for example if you are bleeding profusely or if your baby is in distress. A cesarean may be recommended if your baby is very young, because of the increased risk of bleeding in the brain during a vaginal birth.
Once my baby was born, what's going on?
If your baby is born:
After 34 weeks, it will perhaps not need special care. Although it is small, it could end up directly to motherhood with you. It is also possible that you and your baby are placed in a special unit where the ratio of medical staff is higher.
Before 34 weeks: your baby may need special care. Premature infants are more likely to have problems breathing, feeding and are more vulnerable to infections. It is possible that your baby is immediately transferred to the neonatal intensive care unit. You can see it briefly then, it will be transported to the ICU. This can be very stressful and you need support.
Before 28 weeks: Your baby may need to be treated at a hospital specializing in care of premature babies.
If your baby needs special care, you will be encouraged to see him as often as you like. You may feel helpless and useless to the same situation, but think again. You can always change his diaper, pet him, talk to him and maybe take it and feed it.
Remember that it needs the comfort that only parents can give him as much as it needs medical attention. You can breastfeed your premature baby.
Seek support
If your baby is born prematurely, you'll want to know more about the subject, know what to expect or just have a little support. Other parents in the neonatal intensive care unit understand what you are going. Nurses and hospital staff can tell you which organizations or agencies that assist families of premature babies in your area.