Preterm Deliveries: A Detailed Study
Preterm Deliveries: Causes, Prevention, Treatment & Complications
Preterm delivery (also called premature birth) happens when a baby is born before 37 completed weeks of pregnancy. It is a leading cause of neonatal illness and mortality worldwide. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), around 15 million babies are born too early every year, and complications from prematurity are the leading cause of death in children under 5 years.
📌 Definition
Preterm delivery is defined as childbirth that occurs before 37 weeks of gestation. Depending on gestational age, prematurity can be classified into:
- Extremely preterm: Less than 28 weeks
- Very preterm: 28–32 weeks
- Moderate to late preterm: 32–37 weeks
🧾 Causes and Risk Factors
1. Maternal Factors
- Previous history of preterm birth
- Multiple pregnancy (twins, triplets)
- Maternal infections (urinary tract infections, STIs)
- High blood pressure, diabetes, thyroid disorders
- Poor nutrition or low body mass index
- Smoking, alcohol, or drug use
- Advanced maternal age or very young age
2. Fetal Factors
- Fetal growth restriction
- Congenital anomalies
- Multiple gestation complications
3. Environmental & Lifestyle Factors
- Stress and lack of social support
- Exposure to pollutants or toxins
- Heavy physical work or long working hours
🛡️ Prevention Strategies
- Regular antenatal checkups for early risk detection
- Balanced diet and supplements (iron, folic acid, calcium)
- Good management of chronic diseases (hypertension, diabetes)
- Screening and treatment of infections during pregnancy
- Avoiding smoking, alcohol, and illicit drugs
- Stress reduction and emotional support
- Progesterone therapy in high-risk women
- Cervical cerclage in cases of cervical incompetence
⚕️ Management & Treatment
Management of preterm labor and delivery depends on gestational age and maternal-fetal health status:
- Tocolytics: Medications such as nifedipine or atosiban may delay labor for up to 48 hours.
- Antenatal corticosteroids: Improve fetal lung maturity if given before delivery.
- Antibiotics: To treat infections that trigger preterm labor.
- Magnesium sulfate: Provides neuroprotection for babies born before 32 weeks.
- NICU support: Specialized neonatal care for preterm infants.
⚠️ Complications
In Newborns
- Respiratory distress syndrome (RDS)
- Sepsis and infections
- Intraventricular hemorrhage
- Necrotizing enterocolitis
- Vision and hearing problems
- Long-term neurodevelopmental delays
In Mothers
- Increased risk of postpartum depression
- Emotional stress and anxiety
- Future pregnancy complications
📊 Statistics
| Region | Preterm Birth Rate (%) |
|---|---|
| Sub-Saharan Africa | 12–18% |
| South Asia | 11–15% |
| High-income countries | 8–9% |
❓ FAQs on Preterm Delivery
1. Can preterm birth be completely prevented?
No, but risk can be reduced with antenatal care, healthy lifestyle, and medical interventions.
2. What is the survival rate of preterm babies?
Survival depends on gestational age. Babies born after 32 weeks usually have very good chances of survival with NICU care.
3. Which supplements reduce risk of preterm birth?
Folic acid, iron, calcium, and omega-3 fatty acids are beneficial in reducing pregnancy complications.
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