You already know that a normal pregnancy runs nine months, roughly 38 to 42 weeks. For a birth to be considered premature, it must take place before 37 weeks. Though there are many risk factors that can predispose you to giving birth prematurely, in many instances, no clear cause can be identified. The following are some of the known risk factors for premature birth:
A history of previous premature births increases the risk of another pre-term birth by between 20 and 40%.
Having multiple fetuses also increases the risk i.e. twins, triplets and so forth. Generally, the more babies you are carry the greater the likelihood of pre-term birth
Bleeding in the placenta
Too much or too little amniotic fluid
Uterine and placental infections
Gestational Diabetes
High blood pressure - a condition known as Pre eclampsia
Smoking during pregnancy and use of narcotics
Malnutrition especially if you fail to gain weight as required
Acute fibroids
When pregnancy occurs while you are undergoing infertility treatment
A past abortion which happened in the 2nd trimester
Birth defects of the fetus
If you suspect that you are at risk based on the factors listed above, discuss your concerns with your primary health care professional. If you experience symptoms that appear like labor yet you are not yet due to deliver, contact your health care professional i.e. doula, Midwife or Doctor immediately for advice. A few symptoms of premature labor include:
Frequent contractions in you abdomen
Sharp pain with each contraction
Bloody vaginal discharge which signals your mucus plug is leaking
Lots of clear fluid which signals that your water has broken
If you experience the onset of pre-term labor, you will be put on bed rest, monitored for how the labor progresses and evaluated to determine your status and that of the baby. Sometimes labor can sometimes be stopped using a variety of medical interventions and medications. However, your doctor may determine that you baby has to be delivered immediately because it is impossible to stop labor or due to some other complications.
What Next After a Premature Birth?
Once your child is born prematurely, depending on the age at birth and stability, the infant will most likely be moved to a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) or high care nursery. If your baby is at least 24 weeks gestational age and has a good weight, there is a good chance that with proper care and Kangaroo Mother Care that he/she will survive. At this point your health care professional should involve you and discuss with you the planned care of your newborn. Remember, you are the parents of your baby and this needs to be acknowledged and respected, as the primary care givers to your baby. One of the infant care methods you must insist on at this stage is Kangaroo Mother Care. Kangaroo Mother Care, which is modeled along the way a Kangaroo takes care of its offspring, has been shown to increase the survival rate of premature infants. It also helps them develop much faster by stabilizing their breathing, temperature and other bodily functions. Preterm babies under 700 grams with no access to hi tech neonatal care and incubators have survived and thrived through the natural giving of KMC by their Mother and Father. Remember KMC is for every baby and every parent in every part of the world.