What Can Cause A Preterm Delivery?

Writing this post takes me back to that midnight when my husband took me to the hospital as my water bag (amniotic sac) broke due to premature rupture of membranes. Being a medical professional, I knew what it meant and I told him that I am going to deliver too soon!

I knew that it wasn’t going to be easy, but I was ready to take up all challenges. And today, I am happy to share with you my motherhood journey and the story of my preterm baby, who is now a chirpy 4-year-old. Despite all the challenges, the good neonatal care given to my daughter in the crucial first month of her life helped her  win against the odds.

What’s surprising is that I never thought that I would deliver prematurely. It’s true, even while you may be doing things right during your pregnancy, you may give birth before completing a full term. However, the American College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology states that there are certain risk factors associated with preterm delivery (after 20 weeks and before 37 weeks of pregnancy) following certain preterm labour symptoms.

You must be careful if you have a job that is physically demanding and requires you to stand for long hours. Research on preterm birth indicates that emotional stress during pregnancy may also trigger preterm birth. I had vaginal bleeding at 26 weeks for which I was given medications and was asked to take rest. I started going to work again when I got better as I wanted to save leaves for the post-delivery days. It was logical I thought!

But retrospection gave me a revelation that I was under a lot of emotional stress which I didn’t realise then. I was unhappy with everything around me: I didn’t enjoy my job, I thought I have married the wrong person, I didn’t like my in-laws and the list of dislikes was just endless. I was not able to take charge of my life and was just blaming others for the turbulence.

Now that I have given you a run-down of my story, let’s get into the main business and Now,  understand what is preterm labour and more about the symptoms of preterm delivery, its risk factors, and prevention. Keep on reading to find out.

Preterm Delivery Symptoms

The signs of preterm labour include:

• Abdominal tightness on a regular basis 
• Feeling low, and dull. Having constant backache A feeling of lower abdominal or pelvic pressure
• Experiencing mild stomach cramps
• Spotting or mild bleeding in the vaginal area
• The membranes around the foetus ripping prematurely
• A change in vaginal discharge, such as watery, mucousy, or bloody

Cause of Preterm Delivery 

The main causes of preterm delivery include:

• Multiple pregnancies
• Infections and chronic illnesses such as diabetes
• High blood pressure 
• Genetics.

Risk Factors of Preterm Delivery

These are some e  factors along with the signs of early labour that put women at high risk for preterm labour or birth:

• The mother’s age
• No health care during pregnancy
• Smoking
• Alcohol consumption
• Relying on illegal drugs
• Domestic violence, including physical, sexual, or emotional abuse.

Complications of Premature Delivery

Delivering a premature baby can result in the following issues in the long run:

• Learning disabilities
• Vision issues
• Hearing difficulties
• Dental issues
• Problems with behaviour and psychology
• Health problems that persist

Prevention of Preterm Delivery

Preterm birth is not always avoidable. However, mums-to-be can always observe some precautionary measures in reducing their odds of going into labour too soon. Here’s some advice from me:

• For signs of early labour and care, you will need to consult your doctor early and often during your pregnancy.
• Take care of any health issues you may have, such as diabetes, hypertension, or depression.
• Avoid smoking, consuming alcoholic beverages, or engaging in taking illegal drugs.
• Consume nutritious foods.
• Increase your weight in a healthy way.
• Protect yourself from infectious illnesses by washing your hands frequently.
• Avoid eating raw meat, seafood, and unpasteurised cheese.
• Use condoms during intercourse.
• Avoid taking too much stress.

When to See a Doctor

If you are not  37 weeks pregnant and are experiencing preterm labour signs and symptoms, you will need to contact your doctor immediately. The signs of preterm labour resolve on their own for roughly 3 out of 10 women. If it does not cease, doctors, take help with some treatments to postpone childbirth. These preterm delivery therapies may minimise the chance of difficulties after the baby is born in some cases. I’ve also got you covered with some tips when taking care of premature babies could lead you to a happy life. Must read that out!

FAQs

Q1 What is the difference between preterm and premature?

Preterm delivery meaning is that it begins before the 37th week of pregnancy. It leads to premature birth which occurs as the signs of preterm labour. Whereas, premature birth, on the other hand, occurs when your baby is born before 37 weeks of pregnancy.

Q2 Can preterm delivery be normal?

The majority of preterm births are unplanned and most of the preterm delivery babies grow up to be healthy children later on. By the age of three or so, they are on par with full-term newborns ,in terms of growth and development.

Hope  all clears all your concerns  about preterm delivery. I would ask all of you to love yourself and do the best you can to beat stress. You may also consider picking up a hobby, meditating or taking up yoga, listening to music or simply read a book. Just do it for yourself and everything else will fall in place!

I wish you all a joyful motherhood.

Love, Peace & Joy

Megha

Also read: Emotional roller-coaster of the mother of a little, preemie baby

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