Premature
Births
- Premature babies are babies born before 37 weeks of gestation.
- All the
reasons for premature
or preterm births are not yet understood, but there are some conditions
that have been found to contribute to premature labor. Some
of
these include:
- Infection including Bacterial Vaginosis
- Dehydration
- Stress/Chronic Stress
- No or limited prenatal care
- Diabetes
- Poor nutrition
- Preeclampsia
- Alcohol/Drug abuse
- Being a teen mother
- Being older than 35 years
- Less than optimal OB delivery system
- Talk to your doctor about any concerns you have throughout your pregnancy
Sources of Preterm Labor:
- Spontaneous Labor
- PROM - Premature Rupture of Membranes
- Indicated (iatrogenic)
Sources:
- http://www.marchofdimes.com/pnhec/240_1080.asp
- http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/prematurebabies.html
- http://www.nichd.nih.gov/health/topics/Preterm_Labor_and_Birth.cfm
- http://www.ehealthmd.com/library/prematurelabor/PRL_causes.html
- http://medicalhome.org/diagnoses/lbw_fr_ho.cfm
- Nathanielsz, Peter. The Prenatal Prescription. HarperCollins Publishers. New York, NY: 2001.
Disclaimer: This information is meant for educational purposes only and cannot replace medical advice. Contact your doctor about any concerns you have.