Studies have shown that premature babies (those born before 37 weeks gestation or more than 3 weeks before their due date) face numerous health risks, including chronic lung disease, developmental delays, and cerebral palsy. compared to those who are gestated at term. Premature babies (“preemies”) have not been given time for their organs to fully develop, so they require specialized care after birth. There is no way to guarantee a full-term pregnancy, but there are numerous steps a woman can take to increase her chances.

Prenatal care is key to a healthy pregnancy. Pregnant women should have an early assessment of pregnancy risk factors 10 to 12 weeks after the first day of their last menstrual period. Some of the risk factors include;

1) Age: Women under the age of 18 and over the age of 30 are at increased risk of preterm birth.
2) Vaginal Infections: Infections such as the bladder, kidneys, urinary tract, sexually transmitted diseases, candidiasis, and bacterial vaginosis can lead to preterm labor. Treating these infections will greatly decrease your risk.
3) History of previous pregnancies: A woman who has had a premature baby is at increased risk of having another, as is a woman who has had multiple abortions in the first trimester or one or more abortions in the second trimester. In addition, the short time between pregnancies (6-9 months) also puts women at higher risk.
4) Multiple fetuses: one or more fetuses (twins, triplets) increase the risk of preterm birth.
5) Diabetes: Women with type 1 or 2 diabetes are more likely to give birth prematurely. Ideally, these women should see an obstetrician before conception to ensure adequate glucose control. Poor glucose control at conception increases the risk of birth defects by 20 percent.
6) High blood pressure.
7) Blood diseases and disorders such as anemia.
8) Cervical or uterine abnormalities.

Many of the “lifestyle” rules associated with pregnancy, such as not smoking or drinking, have been instilled in us all our lives, but some are not as well known. Some of the environmental factors that contribute to premature birth include: smoking, drinking, using illegal drugs, domestic violence (whether physical, sexual, or emotional), eating a poor diet, lack of social support, high stress levels, low income, and work long hours with long periods on your feet.

Pregnant women need to stay hydrated with water and electrolytes, especially in the summer. Dehydration causes an increase in oxytocin in the blood, the natural trigger for contractions.

Signs of preterm labor may include: more than 5 contractions or cramps in an hour; bright red blood from the vagina; puffiness or swelling of the face or hands (a sign of pre-eclampsia); painful urination (possible signs of urinary tract, bladder, or kidney infection); sharp or prolonged pain in the stomach; acute or continuous vomiting; sudden gush of clear; watery fluid from the vagina; a dull, lower backache; intense pelvic pressure. Always tell your doctor about bleeding or pain if any of these symptoms are present.

Things you can do in the meantime include: empty your bladder, lie on your left side (avoid lying on your back, this can cause contractions to increase), drink several glasses of water, monitor your contractions for an hour by counting the minutes since the beginning of one contraction to the beginning of the next.

Women can’t control all the risk factors that can lead to preterm labor, but they can do their part. Women should educate themselves on how to properly care for their unborn child and what to expect from their medical professionals. If you don’t know, ask. In pregnancy, there is no such thing as a stupid question.