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The joy
of motherhood, every woman wants to be blessed with at least once in a
lifetime. Isn't it just miraculous how a human can create another human, create
life. However wonderful it sounds, the process of getting pregnant and carrying
the fetus in the womb for nine months and then giving birth is altogether a
very painful and risky process. Though people take all the precautions but a
lot of things might just go wrong. Preterm labor is one of them.
The actual period of carrying a baby inside mother's body is of 37 weeks but in a preterm labor the mother gives birth to a child way too early than that period. The babies born by preterm labor are called premature babies. They are called premature as they take birth earlier than the actual time required for their full development in the womb. Premature babies may have serious health issues at the time of birth and later in life. Facts are that one in every 10 babies is born prematurely around the world.
The actual period of carrying a baby inside mother's body is of 37 weeks but in a preterm labor the mother gives birth to a child way too early than that period. The babies born by preterm labor are called premature babies. They are called premature as they take birth earlier than the actual time required for their full development in the womb. Premature babies may have serious health issues at the time of birth and later in life. Facts are that one in every 10 babies is born prematurely around the world.
Signs
of Premature Labor
Though
throughout pregnancy
it is necessary to consult a doctor on a regular basis but there are some
symptoms (not necessarily always) which can alert a woman about preterm labor.
It is important to contact your doctor immediately after seeing these symptoms.
Signs of Premature Labor
1. Pelvic pressure: Many a times a sensation of
fullness and pressure in your pelvic region is the only symptom you will get as
a warning sign to preterm labor.
2. Menstrual-like cramps (even if occasional)
3. Watery or bloody discharge from vagina
4. Pain in the lower back (usually dull and may
be only occasional)
5. Abdominal cramping (with or without diarrhea)
What Should You Do?
1. Stop right wherever you are, stop doing
whatever you were doing when the symptoms begin.
2. Lie down on your left side.
3. Drink ample amount of water, maybe several
glasses.
4. Feel your abdomen to see if you can feel your
uterus contract (harden).
5. If your symptoms get worse or do not go away
within an hour, seek medical assistance immediately.
6. If your symptoms go away, but return after some
time, contact your doctor or seek assistance.
7. Remember to tell your doctor or midwife about
the symptoms at the next visit, even if your symptoms go away when you lie
down.
It is
not uncanny to have a premature baby. Fortunately all the premature babies grow
up to be perfectly healthy and sound. They also become at par with other normal
kids if proper care is taken. To mention, preemies even become prodigies in
their respective fields.
You can
always use some knowledge to know better what is happening and how to tackle
it. So we will provide you with some facts, reasons and some science behind
premature labor and delivery, listing all the top causes.
1. Pregnancy History
Previous Premature Birth
Not to
dishearten but you are more likely to give preterm birth if you've already had
one before. The risk can increase multi fold if you've had a miscarriage,
especially if it was in the last trimester. The chances of small babies and
prenatal death also can't be ruled out after a previous premature birth.
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Past Abortion
If you
had a past abortion, the risk
of premature birth increases if you get pregnant within six months past that. Better
wait than regret!! You might want to give yourself some rest. Don't try too
hard as the baby might face problems like growth restriction in its early and
crucial years of its life.
Miscarriage
If you
had a history of miscarriage, do not
feel hopeless. There is still hope and you can lower the risk of any
abnormality in future if you work the plan out well. Plan with your doctor
before trying to conceive. It is better to focus on eliminating the root causes
of this problem which are excessive or abnormal weight, stress,
improper diet, health issues like blood pressure
and diabetes.
Focus on doing exercises to maintain a healthy routine, manage stress and try
to be happy, eat well and eat healthy and take enough rest.
Health
conditions like blood pressure and diabetes can be worked upon and controlled
easily by having a better lifestyle. These might look like small habits but
these will define your healthy pregnancy.
2. Mother’s Age
We have
been designed in such a way that there is an age for everything, especially
when it comes to pregnancy. Teen pregnancies especially between the age of 14
to 17 have highest rates of preterm babies. Now the risk further increases if
it is the second child!! For late teenagers of around 18 to 19 the risk is
still quite low but it can't be ignored.
If
early pregnancy can cause premature birth, so can the late ones. If you are
over 35years of age, you can also have premature labor. Adding on to the
problem, prevailing health conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure may
cause complications during pregnancy and birth. However, with careful planning,
you can safely have healthy babies even if your age is 35 to 39.
The
risk of premature babies significantly increases past the age of 40. For
example, in 2013, 11 percent of mothers ages 30 to 39 had preterm births. As
for mothers ages 40 to 44 and then 45 and older, a significant portion of 16
and 25 percent had preemies, respectively.
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