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Giving birth weeks or even months before your due date can be a great shock. Support is available for women who have had a premature baby or know that they are at risk of early labour.
Why do some women give birth early?
It is very hard to predict which women will give birth before 37 weeks of pregnancy. Often, women never discover why their babies were premature, although there are some known risk factors.
- Smoking, alcohol, drugs
- Poor diet
- Infections
- Multiple pregnancy
- Previous premature birth
- Weak cervix, in which case a cervical stitch may be used
- High blood pressure.
How can I prevent premature birth?
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- Get regular antenatal care.
- Have plenty of rest and eat a well-balanced diet.
- Avoid activities that cause any discomfort. However there is no good evidence that work and sex during pregnancy trigger premature labour.
- Be alert to symptoms of impending labour, such as cramps, low backache, changes in vaginal discharge, contractions (even if painless). If you experience symptoms, rest immediately and call your antenatal carer.
- Research is continuing into drugs that halt premature labour. Ask your GP or midwife about current trials.
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What problems do premature babies have?
- Breathing difficulties.
- Trouble sucking, swallowing and digesting.
- Body temperature not properly controlled. This is why premature babies are placed in incubators.
- Babies born early have a higher risk of health problems later in life.
- Remember, with medical advances even some very early babies can survive and develop normally.
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