In this article
Finding out you’re pregnant can bring about a mix of emotions. At the drop of a hat, you may go from excitement and joy to overwhelm and trepidation and every emotion and stage in between. You’ll likely spend much of your free time pouring over your stages of pregnancy week by week. You may find yourself consumed with learning what to expect and what you should be doing for each stage; from the first to the fourth trimester, provided you carry your baby to full-term (40 weeks).
But what happens when baby comes early? Is there anything that can be done to prevent premature birth and are there any complications that can occur as a result of being born too early? According to the March of Dimes โ an organization that works to improve the lives of mothers and babies โ the long-term effects of premature birth can include cognitive disabilities, lung disease, hearing loss, vision impairments, and cerebral palsy.
Read on to learn what is the cause of premature birth and what can pregnant women can do to decrease their risk of going into preterm labor.
What is considered premature birth?
Babies born before 37 weeks, whether it happens spontaneously or when deemed medically necessary by doctors, are considered premature births. A number of factors could contribute to a baby coming early, like parent’s genetics, close pregnancies, stress or anxiety, cervical issues, problems with the placenta, fetal growth or distress, and conditions like preeclampsia.
The chances of preterm labor increase for mothers of multiples, so if you’re carrying twins or triplets, you are at a higher risk of a premature birth delivery. Other factors like age and health or previous premature births can also contribute to early labor.
Another consideration, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) statistics on premature births, the rate of preterm birth among Black women was 50% higher than the rate of preterm birth among Hispanic or white women. A National Institutes of Health 2013 focus group recorded African American women’s answers to what is the cause of premature birth among Black women. According to five focus groups, the women reported that social, physical, and psychological stressors were the cause of the prevalence of preterm births within the Black community rather than educational and economic status.
Symptoms of premature birth
While the only way to know for sure if you’re in preterm labor is to visit the physician for an exam, there are some signs and symptoms that could alert you to a potential concern.
Dr. Ebony Carter of Jewish-Barnes Hospital shared some signs and symptoms to watch out for. “The first one is the onset of regular painful contractions that happen every ten minutes for up to an hour,” Carter said on the St. Louis Children’s Hospital YouTube channel. “If there’s any bleeding at all or if the baby is not moving, these are all things that should prompt a call to the physician.”
The following are additional symptoms that occur before 37 weeks that could result in premature birth:
- Heaviness or pressure in your pelvis
- Change in vaginal discharge or more discharge than usual
- Consistent or constant backache
- Cramping and discomfort
- Prelabor rupture of membranes (PROM) also known as your water breaking
Mom of two Lauren Midgely talked about showing signs of active labor at 27 weeks, when she was admitted to the hospital. “I kept having that round ligament pain and later I found out that every time I was having that round ligament pain it was actually a contraction,” Midgely explained in her birth story posted to her YouTube channel last year. “Immediately they put me on magnesium and some other medication that helps slow contractions, antibiotics for Group-B strep and steroids for baby’s lungs.” Lauren explained that she just felt off and wanted to get checked out just in case.
During my own first pregnancy, 23 years ago, I wound up on bed rest at 21 weeks pregnant after experiencing some bleeding due to what turned out to be complete placenta previa. I knew the contractions and other symptoms I had been experiencing weren’t normal.
Dr. Carter urged moms-to-be to trust their intuition and if something just doesn’t feel right, contact your doctor’s office. There should always be someone available so don’t feel as though you’re bothering them, that’s what they’re there for.
How to prevent premature birth
So, how to prevent premature birth? There are a few things in your control when it comes to having a healthy pregnancy.
Good prenatal care as soon as you think you might be pregnant is key to reducing the risks of premature birth. A prenatal vitamin with folic acid and iron will be beneficial during this time. If you have any pre-existing medical conditions like high blood pressure or diabetes, be sure to seek treatment and get any health concerns under control.
Eat right, exercise, and steer clear of alcohol, drugs, and tobacco. Seek treatment if you find yourself having difficulty quitting. The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecologists website offers a comprehensive list of resources for those who need help quitting unhealthy substances. And of course, if something feels off, don’t hesitate to contact your health care provider right away.
