Pre-Term Labor

In the United States , preterm labor affects approximately 1 in 10 births and is the cause of at least 75% of all neonatal deaths, excluding those occurring due to congenital malformations. Preterm labor is also know as premature labor, and it starts when you are having regular contractions that cause dilation and effacement before 37 weeks of pregnancy.

At this point, your cervix is starting to open or thin out and if you deliver the baby, your baby is considered premature as a result of preterm birth. For over 40 years, the incidence of preterm births has not decreased in the United States, and this is due to the unknown causes leading to preterm labor, so a pregnant women needs to familiarize themselves with the predisposing risk factors.

Starting with preconception counseling, the practice of safe sex techniques and the appropriate treatment of sexually transmitted diseases, decrease your chances of having a preterm labor. After conceiving, you should emphasize your nutrition, by eating healthy but not doubling your servings, to gain weight and other conditions such as high blood pressure.

Avoidance of harmful work conditions and risky practices, such as smoking cigarettes, drinking of alcohol, and abusive recreational drugs is necessary for a healthy pregnancy. You may also be tested for clinical problems leading to preterm labor, including problems with the placenta, structural abnormalities of the uterus or cervix, or having an excessively large uterus.

Rate of fetal morbidity is usually reduced with early and accurate diagnosis of preterm labor. When it is known in advance that you are at risk of giving birth to a premature baby, doctors can delay preterm labor, by administrating controlled corticosteroids and neonatal care, along with new therapies, which increase the rate of fetal survival.

Preterm labor is also associated with stress resulting from pregnancy or a real stressful life situation, such as insecurity over your partner, home, food, domestic violence, etc. Other body mechanisms can trigger the risk of preterm labor and preterm birth, but unfortunately, none of them are completely understood.

However, it is known that come risk factors for preterm birth include a previous preterm delivery, or if you are either younger than 19 or older than 35, short, African-American, underweight or do not gain enough weight during pregnancy due to malnutrition. Women pregnant with twins or multiples are also in risk of preterm labor, the same as those abusing alcohol, drugs or smoking.

If you are having vaginal bleeding in more than the first trimester, your chances to give birth to a premature baby are increased, as well as if you have given birth in the last 18 months. Do not hesitate to visit your doctor as soon as you can to discuss this possibility and prevent preterm birth.