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:
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.
ReplyDeleteI 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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