There are
three main groups of factors that impact prematurity:
- Maternal factors:
- preeclampsia (also known as toxemia or high blood pressure of pregnancy)
- chronic medical illness (such as heart or kidney disease)
- infection (such as group B streptococcus, urinary tract infections, vaginal infections, infections of the fetal/placental tissues)
- drug use (such as cocaine)
- abnormal structure of the uterus
- cervical incompetence (inability of the cervix to stay closed during pregnancy)
- previous preterm birth
- Factors involving the pregnancy:
- abnormal or decreased function of the placenta
- placenta previa (low lying position of the placenta)
- placental abruption (early detachment from the uterus)
- premature rupture of membranes (amniotic sac)
- polyhydramnios (too much amniotic fluid)
- Factors involving the fetus:
- when fetal behavior indicates the intrauterine environment is not healthy
- multiple gestation (twins, triplets or more)
Of course, then there's the rarely spoken of fourth... "Unexplainable preterm labor."
There are three main groups of factors that impact prematurity:
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2 comments:
Addy's reason for prematurity: preeclampsia. Very scary because the mother is also very sick and the body starts to shut down. I'm interested to know why other readers experienced prematurity.
I first started bleeding at 29 weeks thanks to a marginal placenta previa that just wouldn't "move" up. After lots of nonstop anti-contraction medication, a doctor who insisted on waiting until it was absolutely necessay, and lots of weeks in antepartum we made it to a full-term c-sections. I am in awe at your strength. I had a hard enough time sitting on my butt for weeks on end. I am so glad everything turned out so well and I mentioned your story on my blog today.
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