Carrying a baby in your womb for nine whole months seems a long time. But this is the time the foetus needs to develop into that perfect bundle of joy that emerges in the delivery room. While some babies are content to linger in the security of their mothers' wombs, others seem to be in a rush to get out into the world. These premature babies soon discover that nature has ordained a nine month gestation period for a reason. They are often not physically mature enough at birth and are sometimes born with health complications as a result of the fact that they have not developed fully.
Premature labour is one of the most common complications of pregnancy. Labour is termed premature when:
The infant weighs less than 5 1/2 pounds at birth
The infant is delivered before 37 weeks of pregnancy
The onset of premature labour is marked by menstrual-like cramps, clenching of the stomach muscles, dull ache in the lower back, pressure in the lower back, pelvis, abdomen and thighs, and intestinal cramping.
The causes of preterm labour have been difficult to identify. Some factors that seem to increase the likelihood of premature labour are: multiple birth, hydramnios, abnormalities in the structure of the uterus, smoking, inadequate weight gain in an underweight mother, bleeding before labour, intrauterine growth disturbance, intrauterine foetal death, eclampsia and pre-eclampsia and infections.
Once a woman goes into premature labour, the doctors are in a dilemma whether to stop the labour or allow it to continue. They have to weigh the risks to the health of the mother as well as the well-being of the baby in the balance. Obviously, the ideal situation would be if the mother could carry the baby to term so that the foetus can mature in its natural environment. Thus, if the doctors are of the opinion that the uterus, placenta, etc. is in working condition and can nourish and protect the baby, they opt to stop the labour. Halting the labour is a delaying device that doctors often use to allow the baby's lungs to develop. Once they stop the labour, doctors can administer cortisone-like steroid hormones to the mother that induce the lungs of the foetus to mature. It has been found that these steroids reduce respiratory problems in babies born after only 28 to 32 weeks of gestation.
The doctor will react to the first signs of premature labour by ordering strict bed rest and increased fluid intake. If premature labour begins after just twenty weeks of pregnancy, drug therapy may be used to arrest labour and may be continued for as long as thirty six weeks. Labour-stopping drugs include magnesium sulfate, indomethacin, and beta-adrenergics like ritodrine and terbutaline. However, drug therapy may not be effective in all cases.
If the doctors fail to arrest premature labour, they make every effort to ensure a safe delivery. The foetal heart rate is closely monitored for any signs of foetal distress. An episiotomy may be performed to relieve the pressure on the baby's delicate skull and bones.
Name:
MEENU JHA
Country: India
i have born a baby in 32 weeks weighted 1.800kgs. he doestn't feed mother's breast. what can we do? please guide us?
Name:
vian
Country: Iraq
i had premature labour on my first bregnancy on 38 wks.i become pregnant agin on day 40 of my perpurium,now i`m complaining of premature contractin to an extend that bother me & frighten me please help me .. igot uti &rx,,vaginitis& now these r ok ..i`m taking about 8-10 salbutamol tab of 2mg each day but paqi still continuos my hasband is an anesthesiologist & helping too much please answer me by medical terms
Name:
Ranjana
Country: india
is prematured delivery more painful than when normal labour pain starts?
Name:
carly
Country: england
i was premature my self is there a greater risk of my baby being premature
Name:
Mou
Country: middleeast
is there any external reason (example: strain, stress, over-exercise etc.) for premature labour?
Name:
Prameela Janil
Country: india
i have a 7 month baby, she is in nicu for the past two weeks
Name:
Shuaidah
Country: singapore
i went to premature labour on my 29weeks of my pregnancy. now my son is in icu.
Name:
maryc
Country: ireland
i had a premature baby born 10 weeks early weighing 3.5 lbs he was in intensive care for 7 weeks and he is now home and weighs 8.5 lbs. i feed him breast milk and he is doing really well.
Name:
nicki
Country: australia
i was in prem labour so they said,,at 35 weeks. my contractions were irregular and they sent me home from hospital,,even though my baby's head was engaged.. will i go back into labour before 40 weeks????
Name:
Terel
Country: sri lanka
how to protect my prematured baby?,he born only 7 months pregnent period
Name:
ashley
Country: other
i went into premature labour @ 32 weeks an i was wonderin what causes premature labour?
Name:
funmi
Country: other
what can i do if my preborn baby`s head goes down, at six months.
Name:
moha
Country: england
article about preration labour
Name:
Patricia
Country: england
my 14 wks premature daughter weighed 1lb 4oz and only survived 5 days. is it likely it will happen again if i have another child?
Name:
Melissa
Country: canada
does it mean that a person is in labour or going into labour soon if their cervix is soft or could it correct it self and get hard again?
Name:
Shveta
Country: India
ths is my fourth baby,my first baby delivered in 7month but he dies after 3days,then my 2baby delivered in starting of 8months hes alive.3rd was my abortion and now 4 time am 6months pregnant
so i am again worried of
premature labour,plz advice me wht shuld i do?
Name:
fantiantalk
Country: Afghanistan
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Name:
Mona
Country: India
i got a prematured baby in the week of 30 & they kept in the incupator,it was alive for 5 days only & i was operated not normal delivery so when can i conceive next because this is first child,whether it will happen to my next child.
Name:
chhaya palrecha
Country: india
i have a premature baby at 7th month and she is in nicu.
Name:
Sri
Country: India
my wife is in her advance stage of pregnancy and now carrying womb of 34 weeks. she got pre mature labor pain last week i.e. 33 rd week.
gynec doctor adminstered im injection and isoxsuprine hcl tablets and other relevant drug to delay the procees of pre-mature baby to avoid any infection to new born. whether such drugs really needed to arrest tempory labor pain ? if so, how long it should be adminstered ? is this kind of process have any other complications ? please kindly clarify.
