What Are The Causes Of Prematurity?
Often the causes of prematurity are not known. However, there are some risk factors associated with an inappropriate lifestyle.
Prematurity is defined as the premature delivery of a baby. More precisely, before 37 weeks of gestation. A complete pregnancy corresponds to 40 weeks of gestation. Therefore, when a prematurity situation arises, there are a number of risks.
Prematurity implies more immaturity of all organs and systems. It also increases the incidence of pathologies that complicate development. In this article, we tell you about the types of prematurity and their causes.
Types of prematurity
When a baby is born, it can be premature (less than 37 weeks gestation), full term (37 to 42 weeks gestation) or post-term (born after 42 weeks gestation). However, prematurity is divided into several levels :
- Extreme premature : when the baby is born before 28 weeks gestation.
- Very premature newborn: born between 29 and 32 weeks of gestation.
- Moderate premature : between 32 and 35 weeks gestation.
- Late premature : born between 35 and 37 weeks of gestation.
Most babies are born a few weeks earlier and have no problems with their prematurity. However, with fewer weeks of gestation, the risk of serious or even fatal complications is higher. Extreme prematurity can lead to the death of newborns.
Plus, premature babies are at a higher risk of long-term problems. For example, related to developmental delay and learning disabilities. However, most children born prematurely grow up without difficulty in the long term.
Causes of prematurity
The causes of prematurity are often unknown. However, some risk factors have been identified, such as :
- Be a teenager or a woman over 40 years old.
- Belong to a low socio-economic level. The consequence is inadequate prenatal care.
- Being pregnant with twins, triplets or more.
- A bad diet. Very thin women are at a higher risk of prematurity. Perhaps this is due to a decrease in uterine flow due to poor nutrition.
- Obesity is also considered a risk factor. Adipose tissue produces inflammatory proteins that trigger spontaneous labor.
- Having infections during pregnancy. Among them are urinary tract infections and STDs.
- Have already suffered from a case of premature birth. This is the most important risk factor. The number of premature births and the gestational age at which these premature babies were born indicate the risk of re-pregnancy.
- Suffer from heart disease, kidney disease, high blood pressure or diabetes.
- Have cervical insufficiency. In this condition, the cervix begins to dilate early on.
In addition, other factors that increase the risk of prematurity can be:
- Consumption of toxic substances : such as tobacco, cocaine or amphetamines.
- Uterine factors. Uterine surgery, malformations or fibroids influence prematurity.
- Complications of the current pregnancy : bleeding in the 2nd and 3rd trimester, with changes in the volume of amniotic fluid, premature rupture of membranes, etc.
Risk symptoms
There are a number of symptoms that should alert you if you are pregnant. Before them, or before any other problem, you must consult your doctor. First, bleeding in the second or third trimester stands out. This can cause the membranes to rupture prematurely. Hence, it can lead to premature birth.
Second, if you have painful contractions earlier than expected. They can be a warning of preterm labor. Likewise, if you are losing fluid and you don’t know what it is. These losses could be amniotic fluid. It is also a symptom of premature rupture of membranes.
Tips to avoid a premature birth
Although, as we mentioned, the causes are not known, there are a series of recommendations to avoid prematurity. First of all , if you have ever had a premature baby, you should wait 12 months before getting pregnant again.
It is advisable to avoid tobacco and any toxins during pregnancy. Likewise, you need to maintain a proper diet. Ideally, correct malnutrition and anemia before pregnancy. It is also recommended to follow a diet low in fat and high in omega-3 acids.
When labor begins well before the time of day, doctors administer medicine to the pregnant woman. Their purpose is to slow down or stop the contractions. Doctors are also looking to speed up the baby’s lung development to avoid complications.
In conclusion
In recent years, prematurity rates have increased. This is due, among other things, to the increasing age of the mother, as well as to cases of hypertension and diabetes. Prematurity is also increasing due to the widespread use of fertility treatments. These treatments, in turn, lead to more multiple pregnancies.
Therefore, it is necessary to quickly detect the symptoms and consult your doctor if you have any questions. In the same way, it is necessary to continue to advance scientifically to increase the life expectancy of premature babies.
