Are you afraid that your baby will be born prematurely? (Preterm Birth) Let's find out everything about this!

If you are an expecting mother, one of the greatest hopes in your heart is to bring a healthy, fully-grown baby into this world on the due date. But sometimes things don't go as we think. Some babies are born a little early, that is, before the due date. We call this 'premature birth' or Preterm Birth . It is very normal to feel a little scared and worried when you hear these words. But don't worry, today we will talk about everything clearly, simply, and in a way that you can understand.

What is Preterm Birth?

Simply put, preterm birth means that a baby is born before the due date, which is before the 37th week of pregnancy. A healthy pregnancy usually lasts about 40 weeks. During this time, all the baby's organs are fully developed and ready to enter the outside world.

Think about how precious the last few weeks of pregnancy are for your baby. This is when the baby's vital organs, such as the brain, lungs, and liver, are finally developing. So when a baby is born prematurely, those organs may not be fully developed, which can lead to minor health problems. For example, it may be difficult to regulate body temperature or have difficulty sucking and drinking milk.

But the most important thing you need to remember here is that with today's advanced medical technology, babies born prematurely have a much higher chance of overcoming the challenges of those early days and growing up as healthy children if they are given the special treatment they need. So don't lose hope.

Are there different levels of prematurity?

Yes, we divide this into four main categories based on the number of weeks the baby is born. A baby born at 39 weeks or later is considered a 'full-term' baby. Babies born at this age are generally less likely to have complications. A baby born before 37 weeks is what we call preterm.

To clearly understand the levels, look at this table .

Why are some babies born so early? What are the main reasons?

Sometimes, there may be no obvious reason for a premature birth. It may happen suddenly. But sometimes, due to some medical reason, either for the mother or the baby, the doctors have to deliver the baby early. Also, there are several main reasons that can cause premature labor.

• Chronic medical conditions in the mother: If you have pre-existing conditions like diabetes or heart disease, this can be a risk factor. That's why it's important to work with your doctor to manage these conditions well throughout your pregnancy.
• Placental problems: Conditions such as placental abruption or placenta previa can cause bleeding and premature birth.
• Preeclampsia: This is a serious condition that occurs during pregnancy with high blood pressure.
• Having multiples: When expecting twins or triplets (multiples), the uterus feels extra pressure, which increases the likelihood of premature birth.
• Problems with the uterus or cervix: Things like abnormalities in the shape of the uterus or a weakened cervix can affect this.
• Infections during pregnancy: Vaginal or other infections can sometimes cause early labor pains.
• Unhealthy lifestyle habits: Smoking, drinking alcohol, or using other drugs during pregnancy directly affects the baby as well as the delivery.

What are the possible health effects of a baby born prematurely?

A baby born prematurely has not had enough time to fully develop inside the mother's womb. As a result, some organs and body systems may not yet be ready to live in the outside world. This is why these babies need special medical care. These babies are cared for in a special neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) .

Complications that may occur at birth

• Anemia: A decrease in the number of healthy red blood cells in the body.
• Apnea of ​​prematurity: Short pauses in breathing.
• Incomplete lung development: This can cause respiratory distress syndrome.
• Intraventricular hemorrhage: Bleeding into the ventricles of the brain.
• Newborn jaundice: Yellowing of the skin and eyes due to elevated bilirubin levels in the blood.
• Necrotizing enterocolitis: Damage to intestinal tissue.
• Neonatal sepsis: A blood infection that spreads throughout the body.
• Heart problems (Patent ductus arteriosus - PDA): An abnormal condition involving a blood vessel in the heart.
• Retinopathy of prematurity: Failure of the blood vessels in the retina to develop properly.

Possible long-term effects

Babies born prematurely may face some developmental challenges as they grow up.

• Cerebral palsy
• Hearing and vision problems
• Learning disabilities
• Weakening of body growth
• Problems with communication or social relationships

It's normal to feel scared when you hear these things. But remember, not all of these things happen to every baby. By identifying these risks early and providing the necessary treatments and therapies, these effects can be greatly minimized.

How does this situation affect the mother mentally?

Having a premature baby can be stressful for the whole family, especially the mother. Things not going as expected, concerns about the baby's health, and having to leave the baby in the NICU and come home can all cause a mother to experience these feelings:

• Anxiety
• Postpartum depression
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Problems bonding with the baby

What can we do to prevent premature birth?

Although there is no way to 100% prevent a baby from being born prematurely, there are many things we can do to reduce the risk.

• Healthy lifestyle: Completely avoid smoking, alcohol, and other drugs throughout pregnancy.
• Good nutrition: Eat a balanced, nutritious diet.
• Go to clinics early: Register for prenatal care as soon as you find out you're pregnant and attend your scheduled appointments. This will help your doctor identify any risk factors early and provide you with the necessary advice.
• Control existing diseases: If you have diseases like diabetes or high blood pressure, control them well according to your doctor's instructions.
• Reduce stress: Do things that make you happy, and try to stay relaxed.
• Space your children: If possible, spacing your children at least 18 months apart helps reduce the risk.

What are the signs you should look for when seeing a doctor?

If you have any of these symptoms, it could be a sign of preterm labor. So it's important to act immediately without wasting time.

• Abnormal vaginal discharge (like water) or bleeding.
• Abdominal pain or cramping (contractions or cramping). This may or may not be accompanied by diarrhea.
• Persistent pain in the lower back.
• A feeling of pressure in the lower abdomen or vagina.
• "Your water breaks."

Sometimes doctors can give you medication to stop or delay labor for a while. This gives you time to give the steroids that your baby needs to develop their lungs. That's why it's important to get to the hospital quickly.