Preterm Labor
Preterm labor happens between 20-37 weeks of pregnancy when the cervix is open due to regular contraction and the body gets ready for birth before the due date. However, it is not good news. Preterm labor can lead to premature birth, increasing the health risks of the baby. Intensive care will be required for most premature babies after birth. Therefore, doctors normally take a series of measures to prevent preterm labor as much as possible.
The specific cause of preterm labor remains unclear, but some factors might raise the risks:
- Shortened cervix
- Multiple pregnancies
- Tobacco and alcohol use
- Substance abuse
- Vaginal bleeding during pregnancy
- Being stressed
- Advanced maternal age 40+
- Young maternal age (< 20 years) [7]
References
[1] https://www.cdc.gov/reproductivehealth/maternalinfanthealth/pregnancy-complications.html
[2] https://www.cdc.gov/bloodpressure/pregnancy.htm
[3] https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/gestational-diabetes/
[4] https://www.pregnancybirthbaby.org.au/urinary-tract-infections-utis-during-pregnancy
[5] https://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/mental-health/treatments-and-wellbeing/mental-health-in-pregnancy
[6] https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/pregnancy-week-by-week/in-depth/anemia-during-pregnancy/art-20114455
[7] https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/preterm-labor/symptoms-causes/syc-20376842