Subscribe
Preterm delivery
What should I do if a premature baby spits up milk?
For premature babies who experience spitting up, first pay attention to the feeding position. During feeding, make sure to hold the baby up with their head higher than their buttocks, which facilitates the smooth passage of milk through the gastrointestinal tract. Additionally, if the baby vomits, first pick the baby up and gently pat their back to help release some of the residual gas in the stomach, which can reduce spitting up and vomiting. Also, during feeding, be mindful not to feed too much at once; feeding small amounts more frequently can also help prevent spitting up.
How to prevent preterm birth
The causes of preterm birth are numerous, and prevention mainly involves addressing these causes. For etiological reasons, proactive treatment of some chronic diseases is necessary. For pregnant women with a history of preterm birth, it is crucial to pay close attention two to three weeks before the previous preterm birth date. They should avoid overexertion, abstain from sexual activity, and rest in bed until the expected due date. It is also important to identify the causes of preterm birth, such as cervical insufficiency. If so, a cerclage surgery can be performed around the 14th week of pregnancy. If a pregnant woman shows signs of labor or preterm birth, she should be given oxygen immediately, and an injection of vitamin K should be administered to prevent intracranial hemorrhage in the newborn.
What are the signs of premature birth?
After 29 weeks of pregnancy, if the baby is born prematurely, it is called preterm birth. When preterm labor occurs, there are some early signs, mainly manifesting as the onset of abdominal pain, which is persistent and gradually worsens. Additionally, due to the contraction of the uterus, the abdomen becomes hard and localized muscle tension occurs, leading to a feeling of swelling. Moreover, when the amniotic fluid ruptures, the pregnant mother will feel a flow of liquid from the vagina and there will be an increase in intestinal activity compared to usual, along with some abnormal vaginal discharge. These are some of the signs of preterm labor.
Causes of Premature Birth
There are many causes of preterm birth, such as cervical loosening during pregnancy, gynecological inflammations, underdeveloped uterus, congenital uterine malformations, and uterine fibroids, as well as pregnancy-related hypertension and diabetes, which can also lead to preterm labor. Additionally, carrying twins can increase uterine tension and potentially cause preterm birth. Other factors include long-distance travel, fatigue, emotional fluctuations, family relocation, abdominal trauma, prolonged standing, high psychological stress, advanced maternal age, and placental abruption during pregnancy, all of which can contribute to the occurrence of preterm birth.
Can premature birth be natural birth?
First, let's discuss the concept of preterm birth, which is defined as births occurring between less than 37 weeks and more than 28 weeks of gestation. There are many reasons for preterm birth, such as genetic factors, premature rupture of membranes, or complications during pregnancy. If the pelvic size is adequate and the child can tolerate delivery, then vaginal delivery is preferred; however, if the fetus is too small or there are complications during pregnancy such as gestational hypertension, gestational diabetes, or if the mother's health status is not good, it is recommended to opt for a cesarean section to ensure a timely delivery.
How many weeks early can a premature baby survive?
Preterm birth refers to births that occur after 28 weeks of pregnancy but before 37 weeks. Preterm infants have lower resistance compared to full-term infants and generally require special care to survive. The survival rate varies with the gestational age: at 32 to 33 weeks, the survival rate can reach 95%; at 28 to 31 weeks, it is between 90% and 95%; at 26 weeks, it is around 80%; and at 27 weeks, it is about 90%. After 34 weeks of pregnancy, the survival rate of the baby is very high, almost the same as that of a full-term baby.
What is the earliest gestational week that a premature baby can survive?
Preterm infants, how many weeks can survive, first let's talk about the concept of preterm birth. The concept of preterm birth is more than 28 weeks but less than 37 weeks, this is called premature birth. However, with the improvement of neonatal resuscitation technology, in China, if it’s after 26 weeks, the vast majority of newborns can also survive. But after survival, the cost is quite high. For instance, if it's in a top-tier hospital, the cost for newborns born between 26 and 28 weeks can be around several hundred thousand yuan. So, even after some medical insurance policy reimbursements, you would still have to spend around tens of thousands of yuan on your own.
Premature birth is how many weeks?
Under normal circumstances, embryos that develop from 28 to 40 weeks are considered viable, and babies born during this period generally have a good survival ability. However, babies born before 37 weeks of amenorrhea are generally considered premature. Therefore, babies born between 28 weeks and 36 weeks plus 6 days are considered premature. Premature babies, due to the immaturity of their organs and systems, are prone to complications. If the baby has already been born, it is recommended to actively pursue appropriate premature care and symptomatic treatment.
Is premature birth prone to cerebral palsy?
Under normal circumstances, not all preterm infants will develop cerebral palsy. Preterm babies are more susceptible due to their immature organ systems compared to full-term babies. If they face poor adaptation to the environment during or after childbirth, it can increase the likelihood of developing cerebral palsy. However, this does not mean that cerebral palsy will occur in all cases. Furthermore, since the brain development system is not fully mature in preterm infants, conditions such as brain hypoxia may occur, which can affect the brain and contribute to the development of cerebral palsy.
Is premature birth hereditary?
Premature birth is not hereditary. There are many causes of premature birth, including reasons associated with the pregnant woman herself, such as hypertension and diabetes during pregnancy, as well as concurrent conditions like chronic nephritis and hyperthyroidism, which can lead to premature birth. Additionally, premature birth can be caused by a relaxed cervix, poor uterine development, congenital uterine malformations, and uterine fibroids. Furthermore, trauma to the abdomen during pregnancy, long-distance and prolonged travel, fatigue, and excessive emotional fluctuations can also lead to premature birth. Therefore, these factors related to premature birth are not associated with genetics.