Table of Content
- What is pre-term labour?
- What increases the risk factors of a premature birth?
- How are premature babies cared for?
- Latest research on 'kangaroo care' and premature babies
- Can premature labour be delayed?
- Steroid injections and premature birth
- What are the complications of premature birth?
- What are the survival prospects for premature babies?
- Caring for your baby after premature birth
What is pre-term labour?
A pre-term labour (premature labour) occurs at 20-37 weeks gestation when uterine contractions occur in sufficient frequency and intensity to cause effacement and dilation of the cervix . Premature labour can result in an early birth, but many premature labours can be delayed . In Australia during 2010, 8.3 percent of births were preterm – around 25,000 babies each year. Only around 0.8 percent of women give birth between 20-27 weeks, the same for 28-31 weeks, with 6.6 percent giving birth at 32-36 weeks .
What increases the risk factors of a premature birth?
There are factors which increase the risk of a premature labour and many of these highlight the need for quality prenatal care during pregnancy. The risk factors include :
- smoking during pregnancy
- inadequate prenatal care
- drinking alcohol during pregnancy
- using illegal drugs during pregnancy
- being pregnant with twins or multiple babies
- pregnancy that is the result of IVF
- a family or personal history of premature labour.
Other medical factors include :
- having a short cervix in the second trimester
- urinary tract infections
- sexually transmitted disease
- certain vaginal infections
- high blood pressure
- blood clotting problems
- developmental abnormalities in the fetus
- a short time period between pregnancies.
How are premature babies cared for?
Around 8.5 percent of babies are born prematurely in developed nations and the level of care depends on how early they are born. For babies born more than eight weeks early there are specialised Neonatal (Newborn) Intensive Care Units which care for these babies until they have developed enough to breathe and feed without medical assistance. Babies born between 32 and 37 weeks normally only need care within a special care nursery until they are able to feed and breathe normally . There are three main problems with babies born prematurely: immature lungs, bleeding into the brain (occurs in one in five babies born before 30 weeks) and infection due to their body’s defence system being underdeveloped .
Latest research on 'kangaroo care' and premature babies
Recent research on premature babies has investigated ‘kangaroo care’ where babies have skin-to-skin contact with their mothers right after birth. Developed in 1978 in Bogotá, Columbia, where incubators were too costly to be available to care for premature babies – the study shows that ‘kangaroo care’ can have profound effects on the baby’s development. The benefits include :
- more stable sleep patterns
- more stable heart-rate patterns
- less anxiety in mothers
- closer bonding between mother and baby.
The study also showed permanent positive changes in the central nervous system and brain development.
Can premature labour be delayed?
Around 5 to 10 percent of births in developed nations are deemed preterm, before 37 completed weeks of gestation. Because there are risks associated with preterm births, doctors will examine each case and try to avoid early delivery. Every day in the womb counts. If a woman goes into premature labour, admission to a hospital is required. The situation will be assessed, and medicine may be administered to try to slow or stop the contractions. Antibiotics may also be administered to prevent any infection, and antenatal corticosteroids (see “Steroid injections and premature birth”, below) to help the fetus’ lungs mature . While there is no proof that bedrest will help delay labour, rest will usually be advised. However, researchers are calling for the need for study into whether women at risk of preterm labour should be prescribed bedrest, saying that it can cause other side effects such as emotional and financial strain. Dr Joseph Biggio Jr from the University of Alabama in Birmingham has said that, “Bed rest is misperceived as an inexpensive, innocuous, logical recommendation” .
Steroid injections and premature birth
One of the main risks to babies born prematurely is that their lungs haven’t had time to fully develop before 37 weeks. To help, the mother will usually be given a steroid injection which takes 24-48 hours to help the baby’s lungs mature. However, a recent study suggested that steroid injections could lead to mental health conditions, such as ADHD . It’s important to note that the number of children affected was small and any risks must always be weighed up against the benefits.
What are the complications of premature birth?
There are different complications with prematurity, depending on when the baby is born :
- a baby born at 36 weeks will most likely be slow to feed
- a baby born before 33 weeks will have more serious problems, including, most likely, immature lungs
- a baby born before 28 weeks is likely to experience serious problems, but have a promising survival rate.
Long term problems can include:
- cerebral palsy, blindness and deafness can occur in 10 to 15 percent of significantly premature babies
- sight and hearing problems occur in one in four babies with a birthweight below 1.5kg
- childhood hospital admissions are more common in children with a low birthweight
- behavioural, psychomotor and cognitive impairments can also be an issue.
What are the survival prospects for premature babies?
Thanks to medical advances, premature babies today have a much better chance of survival than 20 years ago. Babies born at 23 weeks have a 17 percent chance of survival, those born at 24 weeks have a 39 percent chance, and by 25 weeks there is a 50 percent chance that the baby will survive .
Caring for your baby after premature birth
Your premature baby will need special care through the coming months. Here’s what you can do: :
- educate yourself of your baby’s condition – write down questions and answers
- talk to the medical team about any changes you notice in your baby’s condition
- establish your milk supply by pumping as soon as possible after birth
- spend time with your baby, touching him often, skin-to-skin contact can really
- talk to your baby, read to your baby, get involved with your baby’s care as much as you can.
It can also be very tough on the parents who’ve had a premature baby. While the baby is receiving specialised treatment, the mother and father can experience a range of emotions. It’s also important to take care of your needs after giving birth, so make sure you have lots of emotional support from friends and family – try finding a support group in your area via your hospital or area health centre.
More on premature babies from Kidspot:
- What is premature labour?
- Your http://parenting.kidspot.com.au/wp-admin/post.php?post=37554&action=edit&message=1premature baby
- Mums of premature babies group
- Spring conception may be linked to premature birth
- 8 impossibly tiny newborns who beat the odds
More on prematurity:
- L’il Aussie Prems from L’il Aussie Prems Foundation
- Premature babies from Better Health Channel
- Premature babies develop faster if they’re talked to in hospital from Daily Mail
com/article/260998-overview, retrieved on February 7, 2014
- 2. http://www.webmd.com/baby/premature-labor, retrieved on February 7, 2014
- 3. http://www.lilaussieprems.com.au/survival-rate-for-premature-babi..., retrieved on February 12, 2014
- 4. http://www.webmd.com/baby/premature-labor, retrieved on February 8, 2014
- 5. https://www.nichd.nih.gov/health/topics/preterm/conditioninfo/Pag..., retrieved on February 8, 2014
- 6. http://www.cyh.com/healthtopics/healthtopicdetails.aspx?p=438&..., retrieved on February 8, 2014
- 7. http://www.cyh.com/healthtopics/healthtopicdetails.aspx?p=438&..., retrieved on February 8, 2014
- 8. http://www.haaretz.com/news/national/.premium-1.572692, retrieved on February 7, 2014
- 9. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2675479/, retrieved on February 8, 2014
- 10. http://www.webmd.com/baby/tc/preterm-labor-treatment-overview?pag..., retrieved on February 8, 2014
- 11. http://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/parenting/does-bed-rest-stop-pre..., retrieved on February 8, 2014
- 12. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/11/131123195028.htm, retrieved on February 12, 2014
- 13. http://www.patient.co.uk/doctor/premature-babies-and-their-proble..., retrieved on February 12, 2014
- 14. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-93556/Premature-birth.h..., retrieved on February 12, 2013
- 15. http://www.mayoclinic.org/premature-baby/art-20046286, retrieved on February 8, 2014