When a baby is born early, his organs aren’t fully developed. That’s why preterm babies (preemies) require special care in a neonatal intensive care unit, where special instruments can monitor their respiration, body temperature, blood oxygen levels and heart rate.
The earlier the baby is born, the less developed his organs will be. It can lead to potential problems, including respiratory distress syndrome (RDS); some preemie babies must be intubated and placed on a ventilator, and most preemies spend some time in an incubator.
If you suspect you are going into labor early, you should immediately call your doctor or healthcare provider.
What causes preterm birth?
• The mother has a medical risk factor (e.g. an infection, thrombosis, preeclampsia)
• The child is in danger (insufficient growth, irregular heartbeat, inadequate supply of oxygen)
• Too much or too little amniotic fluid
• Premature membrane rupture
• Medical problems during pregnancy (cervical weakness, malformed uterus, uterine fibroids)
• Placental insufficiency or tear
• Extreme stress or hazardous lifestyle of the mother (poor working conditions, emotional trauma, drug abuse)
• Previous preterm births
• Some multiples pregnancies (twins, triplets)
Medical response to preterm birth
Your doctor’s decisions on how to proceed depend on how far along you are and what stage of labor you’re in. She may:
• Administer medications to stop the contraction
• Prescribe reduced activity or bed rest for the remainder of your pregnancy
• Give you injections of corticosteroids to hasten the maturation of baby’s lungs, if it appears that the baby should be delivered
As of the 24th week of pregnancy (and sometimes earlier), preemies have a chance of survival. The chances of survival increase with every additional week, and after the 30th week they’re up to 95 percent. Girls are generally better able to deal with problems arising from preterm birth than preemie boys, and they catch up developmentally with full-term babies quicker than boys.
Signs of Preterm Birth
If you’re earlier than 37 weeks and you have any of the following symptoms, contact your doctor or healthcare provider immediately:
• Vaginal bleeding
• Sudden dull, persistent pain in the lower back
• Contractions longer than 30 to 60 seconds and with increasing frequency
• Discharge of amniotic fluid
• Intense pains similar to menstrual cramps
• Strong pressure in the pelvis or abdomen