Talk to your provider about what you can do to help reduce your risk for preterm labor and premature birth. Preterm and premature mean the same thing — early. Preterm labor is labor that begins early, before 37 weeks of pregnancy. Labor is the process your body goes through to give birth to your baby. Preterm labor can lead to premature birth. Premature birth is when your baby is born early, before 37 weeks of pregnancy. Your baby needs about 40 weeks in the womb to grow and develop before birth.
Babies born before 37 weeks of pregnancy are called premature. Premature babies can have serious health problems at birth and later in life. About 1 in 10 babies is born prematurely each year in the United States. Learn the signs and symptoms of preterm labor so you can get help quickly if they happen to you.
If you have even one of these signs and symptoms of preterm labor, call your provider right away:. When you see your provider, he may do a pelvic exam or a transvaginal ultrasound to see if your cervix has started to thin out and open for labor. Your cervix is the opening to the uterus womb that sits at the top of the vagina birth canal.
A transvaginal ultrasound is done in the vagina instead of on the outside of your belly. Babies born at 36 to 37 weeks usually look like small full-term babies. Very premature babies will be small perhaps fitting in your hand and look very fragile. Most premature babies will develop normally, but they are at higher risk of developmental problems so will need regular health and development checks at the hospital or with a paediatrician.
For example, a 6-month-old baby who was born 2 months early would have a corrected age of 4 months. That means they may only be doing the things that other 4-month-olds do. Most paediatricians recommend correcting age when assessing growth and development until your child is 2 years old. The hospital will not send your baby home until they are confident both the baby and you are ready.
Staff will make sure you understand how to care for your baby at home. They will also show you how to use any equipment you may need. You will need appointments to see a neonatologist newborn baby doctor or paediatrician. Your local child and family health nurse will also see you regularly.
It is normal to feel a little worried when you are looking after your baby yourself after so long in hospital. Take it slowly in a calm and quiet environment until you both get used to being at home. You can also call Pregnancy, Birth and Baby on to speak to a maternal child health nurse. Learn more here about the development and quality assurance of healthdirect content. This essential guide for parents of premature babies covers gestational age, premature birth risk factors, premature labour and premature development.
Read more on raisingchildren. Premature babies are born before 37 weeks of pregnancy. Our essential guide covers premature birth, babies, development, NICU and more. After a premature birth, it can be hard for dads. Our dads guide to premature babies and birth covers feelings, bonding, and getting involved with your baby.
Our checklist has answers to questions about premature birth and labour, covering where and how premature babies are born, and things to ask medical staff. CDC provides support to perinatal quality collaboratives PQCs , which are state or multi-state networks of teams of healthcare providers and public health professionals working to improve the quality of care for mothers and babies. Funding supports the capabilities of PQCs to improve the quality of perinatal care in their states, including efforts to reduce preterm birth and improve prematurity outcomes.
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Premature Birth. Minus Related Pages. Preterm Birth in the United States Reducing preterm birth is a national public health priority. Another major risk factor for premature labour and delivery is being pregnant with twins or multiple babies.
The rate of twins and multiple babies has increased over the past few years, mostly because of the use of fertility drugs and other assisted reproduction techniques.
About half of all twins deliver at 36 weeks or less. Half of triplets deliver before 32 weeks. Many mothers of twins and multiple babies go into premature labour spontaneously. Others may need to have premature labour induced because of complications during pregnancy. One important risk factor is infection.
Some types of infection that can result in premature birth are as follows:.
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