Premature birth: Causes, Symptoms and Threats

Premature birth is the birth process that occurs when the uterus enters 20 weeks of age and does not enter 37 weeks. The earlier premature birth, the greater the risk of health problems in premature babies.

There are not many premature babies who need care in the intensive care unit. Until now, the exact cause of premature birth is still unclear. However, several risk factors can increase the risk of a woman giving birth prematurely.

Factors causing premature birth

Premature birth can occur due to various factors, some of which include:

Smoking habit
Too fat or too thin before pregnancy
Poor prenatal care
Drink alcohol or drugs during pregnancy
Suffer from many diseases, such as hypertension, pre-eclampsia, diabetes, blood clotting disorders or infections
Babies suffer from certain inherited disorders during the uterus
Pregnant babies from in vitro fertilization (IVF)
Pregnant twins
Have a history of premature birth on the part of family and personal
Get pregnant too soon after giving birth

So, how to find the symptoms of early birth?

Symptoms of premature birth

To anticipate the birth of a premature baby, you need to look at various symptoms, such as:

Back pain. Painful points that indicate early birth are usually in the lower back. Usually arrives constantly
Contractions every 10 minutes or more often
Cramps in the lower abdomen such as menstruation or diarrhea
Fluid flow or slight bleeding into the vagina
Flu-like symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea
Increased pressure on the pelvis or vagina
Increased vaginal discharge

Some of the symptoms of early birth are indeed quite common and difficult to distinguish from ordinary pregnancy symptoms. For safety, see a doctor when you experience some of these conditions. Or, you can check for yourself what type of contraction is happening.

A dangerous threat to premature babies

Although premature babies can still develop normally and healthily, such as babies born on time, the dangers are still there, for example:

Premature babies will grow slower than normal babies
Higher risk for long-term health problems, including autism, intellectual development disorders, cerebral palsy, lung problems, vision or hearing problems
Risk of developing behavioral disorders such as ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder)
Increased risk of infections such as pneumonia and meningitis
Tooth growth can also be disrupted

To do this, you must be careful in any activity, especially those that increase the risk of preterm birth.

How to check for premature contractions at birth

One of the easiest ways to ensure delivery of a premature baby is to diagnose the contractions that occur. Here are the steps:

Place the fingertips on your stomach
Contractions are characterized by a tight and sagging uterus
Record the time at which the contraction began and the time at the beginning of the next contraction
Try to stop contractions by stretching your legs, changing positions, relaxing or drinking two to three glasses of water.
Contact your doctor or midwife if the contractions continue every 10 minutes or less, or if the pain is more severe and does not go away.

Immediately go to the hospital if the doctor or midwife says that a premature baby will be born. Conversely, the contractions that occur may be fake contractions or what are called Braxton Hicks. If the doctor or doctor says, you just need to rest and the contractions will go away on their own.