Welcoming the arrival of a new baby is a happy event, but many expectant parents are worried about preterm labor because it not only affects the health of the newborn, but also the possibility of miscarriage, which will put a heavy burden on the expectant parents physically and mentally. In this article, we will explain the causes, symptoms, consequences and effects of preterm labor, as well as how to prevent preterm labor.
What is preterm labor?
Preterm labor refers to the birth of a fetus before its organs are mature enough, which occurs between 24-37 weeks of pregnancy, with a morbidity rate of 5%-10%. Even with the advancement of medical technology and equipment, the survival rate of preterm babies has been increasing.亦However, most premature babies are physically weaker and need special care after birth, which will affect the health of both the newborn and the mother. Therefore, expectant mothers should always pay attention to their own physical condition and whether there are any signs of preterm labor.
The Aftermath of Prematurity
因Premature babiesAs the organs of the body are not yet mature, newborns often have to face after-effects, which are listed below:
1) Lungs are immature, so often require intensive care and even mechanical assistance to breathe
2) Brain Bleeding
3) Retinopathy, which affects the development of retinal blood vessels and causes blindness.
4) Necrotizing enteritis
5) Sepsis
6) Neonatal jaundice, etc.
Symptoms of Preterm Labor
During labor, there are 3 main pelvic symptoms - redness, water retention and irregular or regular contractions of the uterus (commonly known as uterine contractions). Regardless of the number of weeks, if a pregnant woman experiences any of these three symptoms, she should seek medical attention as soon as possible.
Causes of preterm labor
Dr. Sun Sik Hung, Obstetrician and Gynecologist, pointed out that the factors of preterm delivery can be divided into human factors and non-human factors. Man-made factors are those that are recommended by doctors to ensure the safety of the pregnant woman and the fetus, such as severe toxemia of pregnancy, placenta previa causing bleeding before birth, early abruption of the placenta, fetal growth retardation, poorly controlled diabetes mellitus, intrauterine infections, and serious maternal illnesses.
During pregnancy, any compression, shortening or dilation of the cervix that leads to preterm labor is considered to be an unintentional factor. If the cervix is too short, the risk of preterm labor is increased. Although the cause of some preterm labor is unknown, a short cervix is a major cause of preterm labor. Generally speaking, a cervix that is less than 2 centimeters in length is considered too short, which greatly increases the risk of preterm labor. Because the length of the cervix changes rapidly during pregnancy, the cervix may shorten in a short period of time. Therefore, high-risk pregnant women, such as those with multiple pregnancies, a history of miscarriage in the middle trimester, preterm labor, or previous cervical surgery, should undergo regular vaginal ultrasound to monitor the length of the cervix.
Cervical shortening cannot be prevented and can be improved with treatment.
To avoid preterm labor, pregnant women should always pay attention to their health condition. It is said that pregnant women should avoid heavy lifting to prevent shortening of the cervix, but there is no scientific basis for this. There is no way to prevent cervical shortening, and regular assessment is the only way to keep track of the changes.
Once the cervix is found to be too short, the doctor may recommend cervical cerclage. Studies have shown that cervical cerclage can reduce the risk of preterm labor, and closing the cervix can reduce the risk of miscarriage or preterm labor due to infection and inflammation, as well as medications prescribed by the doctor to reduce the risk of preterm labor. In addition, if the cervix is loose during pregnancy, intercourse and cervical stimulation should be avoided. If preterm labor occurs during pregnancy, it is important to seek prompt medical attention and appropriate treatment to ensure that both the mother-to-be and the baby have a healthy and smooth pregnancy.
Professional Obstetrics Services at the Medical Center of Excellence
Medical Center of Excellence's OB/GYN specialty care team is experienced in pre-pregnancy evaluations,Antenatal careFrom prenatal care to labor and delivery and postnatal care, we provide the best medical support for pregnant women to welcome the birth of a baby with you. If you are interested in learning more about our obstetric services, please feel free to contact us.