Preterm birth - is it worth it to panic?

The premature birth is thethe interval from 28 to 39 weeks of pregnancy. The born fetus is viable, however the 28-week-old child can not yet live on its own - first of all, because of the underdevelopment of the lungs. But to leave it, if it is born at this time, is easier than the previous month. This requires special equipment and efforts of neonatologists. After all, the baby is supposed to grow and develop for another 12 weeks. According to statistics, most children are born sooner than before the deadline. The number of premature births, according to various estimates, is from 2 to 7%, one third of premature birth is caused by the early onset of labor, one third - premature rupture of the membranes of the fetus, and the remainder is caused by complications of the uterus or fetus. Less than 3 out of 4 premature births occur in women whose pregnancies are classified as high-risk. There are many factors that increase the risk of premature birth. The more risk factors a patient has in her history, the greater the likelihood of premature termination of pregnancy. Below are the main risk factors that can often be excluded, and thereby increase the chance of a successful termination of pregnancy.

Main Risk Factors

Smoking Stop smoking before startingpregnancy or at its very beginning. Drinking alcohol Avoid regular use of beer, wine and stronger alcoholic beverages (since no one can determine what "too much" means, it is better not to drink). Abuse of drugs or drugs Do not take any medication without the consent of a doctor who knows that you are in a position, do not use any drugs. Inadequate weight gain If your weight before pregnancy was within normal limits, it should grow to 12 kg before the birth. Inappropriate dieting Follow a balanced diet, make sure that your diet contains zinc (some studies combine zinc deficiency with an increased risk of premature birth). Hard physical work or standing work If your professional work or household tasks require daily standing for several hours, interrupt or restrict them. Sexual relations Future mothers who are at risk of premature birth should abstain from sexual relations and / or orgasm during the last two or three months of pregnancy (orgasm in these women can cause active contraction of the uterus). Lack of hormonal balance This can cause so later childbirth, and premature. The substitution of hormones can prevent this.

It is not always possible to exclude all risk factors, but it is possible to modify their results

Infections, for example, rubella, certainvenereal diseases, inflammation of the urinary and reproductive tract systems. If there is an infection that poses a threat to the fetus, premature birth will lower the child from a dangerous environment. In the case of uterine infection, which may be the cause of premature birth, the immunological response simulates the production of prostaglandin, which can initiate delivery, as well as substances that can damage the fetal membranes, lead to their premature rupture. In order to reduce the risk of infection, stay away from sick people, practice more and rest, eat well and see your doctor regularly. Some doctors recommend the use of condoms during the last three months of pregnancy to reduce the risk of intrauterine infection. Functional insufficiency of neck pressure This is a condition in which the cervix is opened prematurely. It is often difficult to notice until late or premature birth occurs. Having noticed this in a timely manner, you can avoid premature birth by applying circumferential seams to the cervix around the 14th week of pregnancy. For some women, for reasons completely unknown and unrelated to the inconvenience of neck pressure, the cervix begins to open relatively early. In this regard, it is very useful to conduct expert surveys. Sensitive uterus Studies prove that the womb of some women is particularly sensitive, and this tendency can activate premature contraction of the uterus. Some believe that the detection and observation of such women in the third trimester can help in the prevention of preterm labor. It is recommended to use drugs and stay in bed throughout the day or periodically to moderate the contraction of the uterus. Placenta previa The baby's place is located low, close or above the inner opening of the cervix. This condition can be detected during ultrasonography. Sometimes we do not even know about it until the moment of bleeding in the second or third trimester of pregnancy. Adherence to accurate bed rest can prevent premature birth. Stress Sometimes you can exclude the causes of stress or minimize it (interrupting the work that causes it, or getting advice in case of marital concerns). Sometimes it is more difficult to exclude the reason, for example, if you lost your job or if you are alone expecting the birth of a child. But each type of stress can be reduced by appropriate training, the use of relaxation techniques, appropriate nutrition or balance of periods of activity and rest, as well as the resolution of this problem, possibly with the involvement of relatives or friends. Chronic Maternal Disease For example, hypertension, liver or kidney disease, diabetes mellitus. Appropriate medical care, often in conjunction with unconditional bed rest, can be a good preventive measure to prevent premature birth. Age to 17 years Optimum nutrition and appropriate medical care will help to compensate for the fact that both the mother and her child continue to grow. Age over 35 years Risk can be reduced through adequate nutrition, appropriate medical care, exclusion of stressful situations, as well as research related to genetic disorders and obstetric problems. Incorrect structure of the uterus If such a diagnosis was made, then the appropriate surgical intervention before pregnancy, aimed at correcting the irregularity, often prevents premature birth. Multiple pregnancy Women who have a multiple pregnancy, on average, give birth three weeks earlier. Thorough care, proper nutrition, bed rest, limiting activity as much as necessary in the last trimester of pregnancy - all this can prevent premature birth. Problems with the fetus In some cases, the diagnosis in time allows you to discover the shortcomings and cure them in the womb of the mother. Sometimes such a correction allows the birth to occur on time. However, sometimes it happens that none of these risk factors occur, and a healthy woman with the correct course of pregnancy suddenly suddenly begins to give birth early, without any reason. Perhaps one day it will be possible to determine the cause of such premature births, but at present they are covered by one concept: "the cause is unknown". Studies show that even if there are risk factors, it is possible to reduce the number of premature births through prenatal training, as well as monitoring of uterine contractions. Often, the onset of premature birth can be delayed until the child reaches a greater maturity. Very useful may even be a short-term extension of pregnancy. Every extra day a child spends in the uterus increases his chance of life. Therefore, it is very important to know the phenomena that precede premature birth and the ability to recognize them in order to inform the doctor:

spasms reminiscent of menstruation, with or without diarrhea, nausea or indigestion;
pain and pressure in the lower back or changes in the nature of the ailment in this part of the body;
tenderness or feelings of squeezing into the pelvis, extending to the waist and thigh region;
the change in the nature of the secretions, especially if they are watery or tinted pink-red or brown, the appearance of a thick slug of mucus may, but should not precede;
rupture of the membranes of the fetus, flow of amniotic fluid from the vagina.

All listed signs arethe normal course of pregnancy, and sometimes it is very difficult to suspect the approach of premature birth, even an experienced doctor can not immediately diagnose with accuracy, he sometimes needs to conduct a survey, it takes some time to observe. If there is a suspicion of premature birth the woman should be hospitalized. If, nevertheless, despite all the efforts made, the premature birth has begun, the chances of returning home with a healthy child are great (of course, this return home may be delayed). We advise you to read: