What is Premature Birth?

A healthy pregnancy lasts 40 weeks. Births that occur after the 20th week of pregnancy and before the 37th week are considered premature. In other words, babies born before 37 weeks of gestation are defined as premature babies. The vast majority of premature babies require intensive care. For this reason, the duration of the baby's stay in the neonatal intensive care unit varies according to the current situation of the baby.

Although the exact cause of preterm labor due to regular contractions that cause the cervix to open is not clear, it is thought that many factors increase the risk of preterm birth. In some women, premature birth may occur even if they do not have risk factors. It is useful to know what preterm birth means and what causes it.

What are the Symptoms of Premature Birth?

Many expectant mothers experience contractions at different stages of pregnancy, which is one of the premature birth signs. Braxton Hicks contractions, also called false contractions, can be confused with birth pains. Recognizing Braxton Hicks contractions will prepare mothers for the birth process and prevent expectant mothers from panicking unnecessarily. It can help expectant mothers to consult a doctor for the presence of false contractions, which are often not noticed in the first pregnancy.

There are many differences between labor contractions and false contractions. The most important of these is the shrinkage consistency. Contractions occur every 10 minutes or more often. There may be contractions - what is important is how often and if they are continuous, attention should be paid to this. But false contractions are not frequent and do not last long.
Braxton Hicks contractions usually do not cause pain. Even if there is pain, it is usually felt in the abdomen. Also, the contraction or pain tends to go away when the position is changed. Understanding the symptoms is important to prevent preterm birth.

Braxton Hicks Contractions

The easiest way to tell if the contraction you are experiencing is a Braxton Hicks contraction is to check whether the pain and contraction decrease with a change in position. If you have the following premature birth symptoms, you should first inform your doctor. Ectopic birth symptoms can be listed as follows:

• Symptoms similar to infections such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.
• Feeling a contraction that becomes severe every 10 minutes or more
• Pain and cramps or intense gas resembling menstrual periods in the lower part of the abdomen,
• All vaginal bleeding, including minor bleeding and spotting,
• Pain does not go away even if the position of the back and a large part of the waist is changed,
• Watery, bloody or mucus-like vaginal discharge
• Feeling of pressure in the vagina or pelvic area,
• Water coming out of the vagina or its constant dripping.

Can You Feel the Birth Coming Soon?

Every expectant mother's experience during childbirth and pregnancy is different. Following the changes in the body of the expectant mother before the birth can let you know that the birth is approaching. During childbirth, the following changes usually occur in expectant mothers:

• Suddenly feeling energized
• Increased urine demand,
• Alternating mood,
• Worry,
• Decreased appetite,
• Frequent need for fresh air,
• Heavy discharge from the vagina,
• Difficulty walking.

Can Premature Birth Risk Be Reduced?

It is impossible to determine in advance whether a healthy, sustained pregnancy will lead to preterm delivery. However, some factors may increase the risk of premature birth. Avoiding these factors helps the pregnancy to continue normally.
Examinations carried out at intervals determined by the doctor and necessary examinations during pregnancy are very effective in controlling the possible risk of preterm birth. Especially urinary tract infections and vaginal infections can cause premature birth. Therefore, early diagnosis and treatment of the infection is very important. The following measures can be taken to reduce the risk of preterm birth:

• &a lot of physical strength; Do not deal with heavy work that requires
• See a doctor regularly,
• Use water regularly,
• The period between two pregnancies is not less than six months,
• Do you feel sick with fever? Protect it from
• Avoid using chemicals,
• Nutrition should be paid attention to. It should be fed healthily and regularly.
• To quit smoking and drinking completely,
• Avoid placing more than one embryo in a pregnancy planning to use assisted reproductive IVF.