Pregnancy is often a time of joy and expectation, but it may also be a period of tension. Many mothers are concerned about their baby’s well-being and worry, “Is everything okay?” Some women are concerned about going into labor too soon. Premature labor occurs in around 12% of all pregnancies. However, a woman may lower her chances of preterm labor by being aware of the signs and avoiding specific risk factors. Prenatal medical care helps in the prevention of premature birth. A pregnant woman can consult a doctor at Yatharth Super Specialty Hospital Noida extension, to ensure healthy childbirth.
What is premature birth?
Premature birth happens when the baby is born before the full term of pregnancy, between 37 and 39 weeks in the womb. When a baby is delivered before the end of a full-term pregnancy, the time it takes for the kid to develop in the womb is significantly shortened. This can lead to short- and long-term health issues, such as developmental delays, chronic lung disease, and down’s syndrome.
What are the ways to prevent premature birth?
It’s normal to worry about an early birth while you’re pregnant. Risk factors including diabetes or preeclampsia can cause a high-risk pregnancy. But there are also strategies to avoid a preterm birth. Change your habits, consume a nutritious diet, or manage your conditions. A healthy pregnancy needs constant pregnancy monitoring and early prenatal care. Below are the factors help to prevent premature birth:
- Avoid smoking & alcohol consumption – While pregnant, no quantity of alcohol is safe. Premature birth is only one of the numerous dangers of consuming alcohol while pregnant. A pregnant woman must avoid the use of Tobacco, smoking, e-cigarettes, and secondhand smoke.
- Control your BMI before conception – Mothers who are underweight when they become pregnant are more likely to give birth prematurely. A high BMI before conception increases the risk of developing high blood pressure or diabetes during pregnancy. High blood pressure can be linked to preeclampsia during pregnancy, leading to major consequences for both mom and baby if not handled. So,
Maintaining a healthy weight is therefore essential for the prevention of premature birth and having a safe pregnancy.
- Manage chronic disease – If you have a chronic condition such as high blood pressure or type 1 or type 2 diabetes before pregnancy, you are more likely to have an early delivery. Even for pregnant women who have been well managed for many years, maintaining good blood sugar management during pregnancy can be difficult.
- Keeping blood sugar levels within a reasonable range can help to lower the risk of preterm delivery and other complications associated with diabetes during pregnancy. Also, prenatal medical assistance can solve this problem.
- Ongoing medication – Take charge of your lifestyle choices –Examine all of the Medicines you’re taking that were given prior to your pregnancy. Please make a list of them and notify your doctor as soon as possible. Your doctor will be able to inform you whether or not these will harm your pregnancy.
- See your doctor regularly – If you get pregnant, you must begin prenatal treatment as soon as possible and keep all of your appointments. This will assist your doctor in identifying any possible difficulties and providing you with the appropriate treatment to ensure a healthy and stress-free pregnancy.
Your doctor will also advise you on how to eat properly and gain the appropriate amount of weight during your pregnancy and check you for any potential illnesses that might harm your pregnancy. You must also take the prenatal vitamins that will be recommended regularly, as they include folic acid, which is vital for a healthy pregnancy.
- Keep an eye out for the signs – Keep a lookout for the warning signals – Recognize the symptoms of premature labor. While there isn’t much doctors can do after you go into labor, they can postpone the birth by a few days and begin important treatments for you and your baby. Contractions that happen every ten minutes or so, fluid flowing from your vagina, pelvic pressure, lower back discomfort, menstrual-like cramps, and stomach pains that start in the back and advance to the front are all signs of labor.
All these factors and lifestyle modifications are helpful in the prevention of premature birth of a child. On the other hand, Medical assistance with an OBS & GYN specialist can aid you with the support and care you need to lower your chances of having a preterm baby.
What are the possible warning signs and symptoms of premature delivery?
To avoid preterm labor, you must be aware of the warning signs. Acting quickly can make a significant difference. If you have any of the following symptoms, contact your gynecologist immediately:
- Five contractions or more in one hour. These might feel like menstruation cramps or be rather mild.
- Watery fluid coming from your vagina, as well as a gush or trickle of fluid — this might suggest that your water has ruptured.
- A dull, low backache is feeling just below the waist. It might be constant or frequent.
- Irritable bowel syndrome, nausea, or diarrhea
- Pelvic or lower abdominal pressure may seem like your baby is pressing down. The pressure may also make you feel as if you need to urinate.
- Spotting or bleeding in the cervix
- The increased or altered vaginal discharge might be watery, bloody, or mucous.
Because the signs of preterm labor might be similar to those of other medical conditions, your doctor is the best person to confirm a diagnosis. Remember that pregnant women usually have some mild Braxton-Hicks contractions later in their pregnancy. However, they do not generally have frequent, regular contractions until women are in labor!
What Happens If My Child Is Born Too Soon?
Premature newborns grow at a slower rate than full-term babies.
- They may move more slowly when turning onto their back, speaking, or grasping and holding items with their hands.
- They are more likely to have long-term health issues such as autism, intellectual difficulties, lung problems, and hearing loss.
- Other children have behavioral challenges later in life. Some individuals have emotional outbursts or are too active. They may struggle in school with learning or reading.
- Kids born beyond 7- months frequently require a brief stay in the neonatal critical care unit of the hospital (NICU.)
- Babies born before then suffer even greater difficulties. They will require intensive care in the NICU.
The final words – A woman should Seek prenatal care early in her pregnancy, especially if you have any risk factors for preterm birth, such as a previous premature baby or a problem with her uterus or cervix. However, prevention of premature birth is possible with good lifestyle habits and nutritional dietary modification. A gynecologist can help you reduce the risk of premature delivery by managing all the risk factors.