Most babies are born near the end of the 40th week of pregnancy, but according to statistics, every ninth baby is born prematurely or until 37 weeks old. Preterm labor today is a common occurrence, as more women use assisted reproductive technologies, such as in vitro fertilization, to become pregnant.

What is premature birth?.

"The definition of preterm labor means delivery occurring at a period of 22 to 37 full weeks and with a fetus weight of more than 500 grams," explains Dr. Dorothy Breiggman, obstetrician-gynecologist at the Keck Medical School. And although any births during this period are considered "premature", the differences in the child's health indicators can be huge:.

Premature delivery after 25 weeks Babies born before 23 weeks often have very poor chances of survival. "At the age of 24 weeks of fetal development, the fetus develops lungs so that it can survive beyond the uterus," explains Dr. Breiggman, "even babies born at 24 weeks have only up to 60% chance of survival. Many children, born so early, face serious medical complications at birth and throughout life ". Parents with preterm infants aged 25 weeks and younger can expect full-scale hospitalization in the intensive care unit (which provides the most intensive level of care, including heart surgery), 24 hour care for medical personnel, including intubation, nerve tubes and incubators to maintain body temperature.

Premature delivery after 25-27 weeks The percentage of prematurely born infants that are born and continue to live without any disturbance increases dramatically as early as 24 to 25 weeks of gestation. Major medical complications in preterm infants include learning difficulties, behavioral problems, growth limitations, breathing problems (due to the immature lung development in the uterus), and cerebral palsy. Babies born before the 27th week still need full-scale hospitalization in the intensive care unit.

Premature delivery after 27-32 weeks. "Although every additional day and every additional week can be very important, 28 weeks is not a critical time," says Dr. Breiggman. At 30 weeks, the incidence of neonatal survival rises sharply and reaches more than 96%. Infants born at this time usually need care in the intensive care unit, depending on the severity of their problems.

Premature delivery after 32-37 weeks Specialists recognize the fact that babies born at 34 weeks may have serious health problems, but most babies have good chances of recovery. Infants born at the age of 32 weeks or older receive hospital care. Medical staff provide assistance with moderate problems with the immature baby, for example, feeding problems that are not considered life-threatening.

What to do?.

First of all, keep in mind the signs of premature birth, which include:.

bleeding.

convulsions.

contractions (which may seem like an obvious sign of childbirth, but they are difficult to distinguish at an early stage of pregnancy - they can be felt like back pain or cramps).

any liquid from the vagina.

Because the early signs of childbirth can be difficult to distinguish, especially in the early stages of pregnancy, doctors advise women who do not experience bleeding, and only face convulsions and discomfort, first try to calm down, drink water and relax.

If symptoms persist, a woman should call a doctor.

Is there any treatment for premature birth?.

In many cases, the cause of premature birth is unknown. In other cases, premature birth may be caused by a variety of different factors, including infection, "incompetent" or weak cervix, problems with child growth or placenta development, multiple pregnancies, etc.. Treatment will depend on the cause, if it can be determined.

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