Preterm Labor
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Preterm labor can lead to premature birth. This means your baby is born before 37 weeks of pregnancy. Babies born this early can face serious health problems. About 1 in 10 babies is born prematurely each year in this country.
What causes preterm labor and birth?Sometimes we don’t know for sure what causes preterm labor and premature birth. Any woman can have preterm labor and give birth early, even if she’s done everything right during pregnancy.
We do know some things make a woman more likely than others to have preterm labor and premature birth. These are called risk factors. Having a risk factor doesn’t mean for sure that you’ll have preterm labor or give birth early. But it may increase your chances. Talk to your health provider about what you can do to help reduce your risk.
Because many premature babies are born with low birthweight, many risk factors for preterm labor and premature birth are the same as for having a low-birthweight baby. Low birthweight is when a baby is born weighing less than 5 pounds, 8 ounces.
These three risk factors make you most likely to have preterm labor and give birth early:
Being younger than 17 or older than 35 makes you more likely than other women to give birth early. And race/ethnicity is a risk factor, too. In the United States, black women are more likely to give birth early. Almost 17 percent of black babies are born prematurely each year. Just more than 10 percent of Native American and Hispanic babies are born early, and less than 10 percent of white and Asian babies. We don’t know why race plays a role in premature birth; researchers are working to learn more about it.
What are the signs of preterm labor?We know that preterm labor can lead to early birth. So how do you know if you’re in preterm labor? Learn the signs of preterm labor so you know what to do if preterm labor happens to you.
Are there treatments for preterm labor?Yes. You may get treatments to help prevent or stop preterm labor. Or you may get treatments to help improve your baby's health before birth. Talk to your provider about which treatments may be right for you.
Last reviewed: October, 2015
Retrieved from: http://www.marchofdimes.org/complications/preterm-labor-and-premature-birth.aspx
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Preterm labor can lead to premature birth. This means your baby is born before 37 weeks of pregnancy. Babies born this early can face serious health problems. About 1 in 10 babies is born prematurely each year in this country.
What causes preterm labor and birth?Sometimes we don’t know for sure what causes preterm labor and premature birth. Any woman can have preterm labor and give birth early, even if she’s done everything right during pregnancy.
We do know some things make a woman more likely than others to have preterm labor and premature birth. These are called risk factors. Having a risk factor doesn’t mean for sure that you’ll have preterm labor or give birth early. But it may increase your chances. Talk to your health provider about what you can do to help reduce your risk.
Because many premature babies are born with low birthweight, many risk factors for preterm labor and premature birth are the same as for having a low-birthweight baby. Low birthweight is when a baby is born weighing less than 5 pounds, 8 ounces.
These three risk factors make you most likely to have preterm labor and give birth early:
- You’ve had a premature baby in the past.
- You’re pregnant with multiples (twins, triplets or more).
- You have problems with your uterus or cervix now or you’ve had them in the past.
- Getting late or no prenatal care. Prenatal care is medical care you get during pregnancy.
- Bleeding from the vagina in the second or third trimester
- Being underweight or overweight before pregnancy or not gaining enough weight during pregnancy
- Having certain health conditions, like high blood pressure, preeclampsia, diabetes orthrombophilias (blood clotting disorders). Or having certain infections during pregnancy, like asexually transmitted disease (STD) or other infections of the uterus, urinary tract or vagina.
- Preterm premature rupture of the membranes (also called PPROM). This is when the sac around the baby breaks early, causing labor to start.
- Being pregnant after in vitro fertilization (IVF). IVF is a fertility treatment used to help women get pregnant.
- Being pregnant with a baby who has certain birth defects, like congenital heart defects or spina bifida
- Getting pregnant too soon after having a baby. Wait at least 18 months between giving birth and getting pregnant again. Some women can’t wait this long because of their age or other reasons. Talk to your provider about what’s right for you.
- Having a family history of premature birth. This means someone in your family (like your mother, grandmother or sister) has had a premature baby. If you were born prematurely, you’re more likely than others to give birth early.
- Exposure to the medicine DES, a man-made form of the hormone estrogen. This includes being exposed to DES in the womb (your mother took DES when she was pregnant with you).
- Smoking, drinking alcohol, using street drugs or abusing prescription drugs
- Having a lot of stress in your life, including having little education, low income, being unemployed or having little support from family and friends
- Being single
- Domestic violence. This is when your partner hurts or abuses you. It includes physical, sexual and emotional abuse.
- Working long hours or having to stand a lot
- Being exposed to pollutants, like air pollution and harmful chemicals at work
Being younger than 17 or older than 35 makes you more likely than other women to give birth early. And race/ethnicity is a risk factor, too. In the United States, black women are more likely to give birth early. Almost 17 percent of black babies are born prematurely each year. Just more than 10 percent of Native American and Hispanic babies are born early, and less than 10 percent of white and Asian babies. We don’t know why race plays a role in premature birth; researchers are working to learn more about it.
What are the signs of preterm labor?We know that preterm labor can lead to early birth. So how do you know if you’re in preterm labor? Learn the signs of preterm labor so you know what to do if preterm labor happens to you.
Are there treatments for preterm labor?Yes. You may get treatments to help prevent or stop preterm labor. Or you may get treatments to help improve your baby's health before birth. Talk to your provider about which treatments may be right for you.
Last reviewed: October, 2015
Retrieved from: http://www.marchofdimes.org/complications/preterm-labor-and-premature-birth.aspx