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Health Conditions

What Is the Purpose of a Pacemaker? A Simple Guide for Patients

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Piyush Yadav16th July 2025
5 min read

Preterm birth has become a rising concern worldwide due to its complicated nature. Statistics show that every year, around 15 million preterm births occur worldwide, making it a leading cause of neonatal mortality. It also causes various short-term and long-term health concerns in children and prevents them from leading a healthy lifestyle. This article will provide all the important facts regarding preterm birth so that the expecting parents can avoid it from happening.

What is Preterm Birth?

Preterm birth is the type of childbirth where the baby is born before 37 weeks of gestation. In case of a normal pregnancy, it takes 4o weeks to give birth without much complications. However, babies that are born before 37 weeks are considered premature as they face various health challenges due to their incomplete organ development. The earlier the babies are born, the more challenges they face.

Key Signs of Preterm Birth

There are some crucial signs before the completion of 37 weeks that might indicate a preterm birth. You need to stay aware of the following signs and consult your gynecologist as soon as they appear.

  • Contractions in regular intervals in 4-6 hour gaps. Don’t ignore these even if they are not painful.

  • Constant back pain of low intensity.

  • Feeling some sort of pelvic pressure as if the baby is trying to push down\

  • Bloody of mucus like vaginal discharge

  • Bleeding from the vagina

  • Leaking or gushing fluid from the vagina

  • Diarrhea or stomach issues without any particular reason

Even if the symptoms are mild, you need to consult your doctor promptly. Early detection and immediate treatment can prevent complications of preterm birth.

Reasons Behind Preterm Birth

There might be different types of reasons behind a preterm birth, and often the exact reason remains unknown. However, some common conditions might increase the chances of preterm birth.

  • Infection: Some infections, like UTI (Urinary Tract Infection) or STI (Sexually Transmitted Infection), can trigger a premature labour.

  • Multiple Pregnancies: If you are carrying more than one baby, there is a chance of preterm birth.

  • Previous Occurrence: If yoy altready have a preterm birth before, there is a chance that you might face it again.

  • Placental Complications: Critical conditions of the placenta, where it separates from the uterus (Placental Abruption) or covers the cervix (Placenta Previa), can cause an early labour.

  • Age: Being very young or old during pregnancy (under 17 or above 35) can lead to preterm birth. In this case, it is important to remember that young mothers face more challenges than older mothers during pregnancy.

  • Overexertion: Excessive physical labour during pregnancy, especially between the second and third trimesters, can increase the risk of a preterm birth.

  • Lifestyle Factor: Smoking and alcohol or drug use during pregnancy are the primary causes of pregnancy-related complications and might lead to a preterm birth.