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 the 37th week of pregnancy are defined as premature babies. The majority of premature babies require intensive care. Therefore, the length of time the baby stays in the neonatal intensive care unit varies depending on the baby's current condition.

Although the exact cause of premature birth due to regular contractions that cause the cervix to open is not clear, many factors may affect it.premature birthis thought to increase the risk. Even if some women do not have risk factorspremature birthIt can happen. It is useful to know what premature birth means and what causes it.

What are the symptoms of premature birth?

Many expectant motherspremature birthOne of the symptoms of pregnancy is contractions at different stages of pregnancy. Braxton Hicks contractions, also called false contractions,labor painsCan be mixed with . Recognizing Braxton Hicks contractions, mothersto the birth processIt will prepare you and prevent expectant mothers from panicking unnecessarily. It may be helpful for expectant mothers to consult a doctor for the presence of false contractions, which are often unnoticed in the first pregnancy.

Follow-up plan during pregnancy and birth; It should be created by evaluating the medical history of the expectant mother, the week of pregnancy, findings about the baby, and the conditions of the center where the birth will take place [1][2].

There are many differences between labor contractions and false contractions. The most important of these is shrinkage consistency. Contractions occur every 10 minutes or more frequently. There may be contractions, the important thing is how often and constantly they occur. This should be taken into consideration. But false contractions do not occur frequently and do not last long.
Braxton Hicks contractions usually do not cause pain. Even if there is pain, it is usually felt in the front part of the abdomen. Additionally, the contraction or pain tends to disappear when the position is changed. Understanding the symptoms is important to prevent premature birth.

Braxton Hicks Contractions

The easiest way to understand whether the contraction you are experiencing is a Braxton Hicks contraction is to check whether the pain and contraction decrease with a change of position. The followingpremature birthIf you have symptoms, you should first inform your doctor. Symptoms of ectopic birth can be listed as follows:

The decision on the method of birth is not based on a single criterion; It should be given taking into account the safety of the mother and baby, previous birth history and current examination findings [2][3].

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

Can You Feel Birth Coming Soon?

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

Symptoms that occur during pregnancy do not always have the same meaning; In cases such as bleeding, severe pain, regular contractions or decreased baby movements, evaluation is required without delay [1][3].

• suddenly feeling energetic,
• Increased urine demand,
• changeable mood,
• Anxiety,
• decreased appetite,
• Frequent need for fresh air,
• Heavy discharge from the vagina,
• Difficulty walking.

Can the Risk of Preterm Birth be Reduced?

It is impossible to determine in advance whether a healthy, sustained pregnancy will lead to premature birth. But some factorspremature birthmay increase the risk. Avoiding these factors helps the pregnancy continue normally.
Examinations performed at intervals determined by the doctor and necessary examinations during pregnancy are very effective in controlling the possible risk of premature 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 premature birth:

In the postpartum period, physical recovery, mental status, breastfeeding and infection findings should be monitored together [1].

• Do not engage in heavy work that requires a lot of physical strength,
• See a doctor regularly,
• Use water regularly,
• The period between two pregnancies should not be less than six months,
• Protect yourself from feverish diseases,
• Avoid using chemicals,
• One should pay attention to nutrition and eat healthy and regularly.
• Quit smoking and drinking completely,
• Avoid implanting more than one embryo in a pregnancy if you plan to use IVF with assisted reproduction.

References

• [1] WHO - Recommendations on antenatal care for a positive pregnancy experience- International recommendations for pregnancy monitoring, counseling and safe follow-up.
• [2] WHO - Intrapartum care for a positive childbirth experience- Guide for the birth process, birth support and safe care principles.
• [3] ACOG - Clinical Guidance: Obstetrics- Clinical guide archive for pregnancy, birth and women's health practices.