Premature birth is a condition that refers to when a baby is born before 37 weeks of pregnancy. In the United States, almost one out of every ten newborns born every year are premature. As a result, they may have more health issues and require more hospitalization than babies delivered later.
However, even newborns born very early have a better chance of survival now than they have in the past, thanks to developments in medical care.
Your baby’s health care provider may use the following terminology to describe your baby’s birth:
- Your baby is born late preterm between 34 and 36 weeks of pregnancy.
- Your baby is born between 32 and 34 weeks of pregnancy, considered moderately preterm.
When a Baby is Born Prematurely, What are the Possible Side Effects?
During pregnancy, your baby is born before 32 weeks.
Extreme preterm birth occurs when a baby is born prior to the 25th week of pregnancy.
Some health issues that arise from premature delivery can last a lifetime. Other issues, such as intellectual or developmental difficulties, may emerge as your kid grows older and into childhood.
These are issues with the brain’s functions that can create difficulties or delays in a person’s physical growth, learning, communication, self-care, or getting along with others.
The earlier a kid is born during pregnancy, the more likely he will suffer health issues. Premature babies born before 34 weeks of pregnancy are most likely to suffer health issues. Still, kids born between 34 and 37 weeks of pregnancy are also at an elevated risk of premature birth-related health issues. Some premature babies will need to stay in a Top NICU Hospitals newborn critical care unit for a while. It is a hospital nursery where sick neonates receive medical attention.
Premature babies are kept in the NICU until their organs have developed sufficiently to allow them to survive without medical assistance. Some babies require weeks or months of NICU care until they can breathe on their own, feed by mouth, and regulate their body temperature and weight.
Premature babies are caused due to various reasons, most common reasons include:
Diabetes:
One of the most prevalent complications related to diabetes and pregnancy is premature delivery. However, controlling your blood sugar levels before and during pregnancy can help to lower your risk.
Gestational Diabetes:
Early delivery by induction or cesarean section is occasionally indicated for women with gestational diabetes if the healthcare team is concerned about the baby’s or mother’s health and the risk of complications.
According to several studies, women with gestational diabetes have a greater chance of spontaneous preterm birth.
Antiphospholipid Syndrome:
Antiphospholipid syndrome is a blood condition affecting the immune system, leading to pregnancy issues such as premature birth. If you’ve had recurring or late miscarriages, you are referred for tests to determine what’s causing them. It could include APS tests.
Pre-eclampsia:
Pre-eclampsia is a pregnancy-related illness that affects some women. A combination of high blood pressure (hypertension) and protein in the urine causes it (proteinuria). Pre-eclampsia typically appears after 20 weeks of pregnancy or shortly after birth. Pre-eclampsia is a condition that can range from mild to severe.
Fetal Growth Restriction:
Fetal growth restriction (FGR) is when a baby is smaller than expected or whose growth slows or stops while the mother is pregnant. Intrauterine growth limitation is another name for it (IUGR). You need to receive preterm birth treatment to save your child from severe complications.
There is a higher risk of difficulties in pregnancy if your baby has FGR.
Intrahepatic Cholestasis of Pregnancy (ICP):
ICP, also known as obstetric cholestasis, is a liver condition that can affect you during pregnancy.
Bile acids normally move from your liver to your intestines to aid digestion. Instead, bile acids build up in your body with ICP. Unfortunately, except for the baby’s delivery, there is no known cure for ICP. ICP increases premature birth.
In case of any Infection:
Infection within the womb is known as intrauterine infection. E. coli and Group B Streptococcus (GBS), bacterial vaginosis, chlamydia, trichomonas, gonorrhea, syphilis, and HIV are all infections that can spread to the womb. In addition, premature birth can be caused by intrauterine infection.
Urinary Tract Infection:
If left untreated, UTIs can lead to extreme premature delivery. If you acquire a UTI while pregnant, it is not an emergency, but it is treated as quickly as possible.
Placental Abruption:
When the placenta begins to pull away from the interior of the womb wall, this is known as placental abruption. It can result in stomach pain, vaginal bleeding, and contractions. Premature birth can be a possibility as a result of this.
If the condition is significant or you are nearing your due date, the baby may need to be delivered right away (usually by cesarean section).
Alcohol:
Drinking a lot of alcohol while pregnant increases your chances of having a premature baby, as well as:
- Miscarriage
- low birth weight
- learning difficulties, and behavioral issues for the baby later in life
When you consume a drink, alcohol travels through your bloodstream to your baby via the placenta. Because there is no known safe threshold of drinking during pregnancy, the safest option is to avoid drinking at all. Consult the Best Hospital In Coimbatore to safeguard your dear ones.
Smoking:
Smoking is the most preventable cause of pregnancy complications and miscarriage. It raises the chances of having a baby too soon, as well as:
SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome) is a syndrome caused by miscarriage, stillbirth, or
Ectopic pregnancy is a term that refers to a pregnancy that occurs outside of the
Smoking cessation is never too late. Every day you go smoke-free during your pregnancy benefits your baby’s health and growth.
Premature babies frequently require particular attention, which is why infants frequently start their lives in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). The NICU provides a stress-free environment for the newborn. It also gives the necessary warmth, nutrition, and protection for optimal development and growth. It is important that you reach out to a neonatologist doctor to get proper care during pregnancy.