Can premature birth be natural birth?

Written by Liu Wei Jie
Obstetrics
Updated on September 24, 2024
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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.

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Written by Zhao Li Li
Obstetrics
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Signs of premature birth

Generally, babies born between 28 and 37 weeks of gestation are considered premature. Normally, premature babies have underdeveloped organ systems, which makes them prone to serious abnormalities in various organs after birth. This can lead to conditions such as respiratory distress syndrome or cerebral palsy. Signs of premature labor typically include sudden regular abdominal pain without any other abnormalities, accompanied by clear uterine contractions and a feeling of abdominal heaviness, with a persistent, notable dilation of the cervix.

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Written by Zhao Li Li
Obstetrics
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What is the earliest month that premature birth can occur?

Under normal circumstances, the entire childbirth process for a fetus is divided into three stages: early pregnancy, middle pregnancy, and late pregnancy. Generally, fetal development between 28 to 40 weeks is considered a viable period. During this time, if delivery occurs, the baby's chances of survival are very high. However, normally, a fetus between 37 to 40 weeks is considered full-term, so babies born before 37 weeks are referred to as premature. Premature babies need close monitoring of their developmental status after a normal delivery to avoid potential complications.

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Written by Zhao Li Li
Obstetrics
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How to switch from preterm formula to regular formula?

Generally, in the early stages of preterm infants, it is still necessary to feed them promptly with preterm formula. Since the gastrointestinal function of preterm infants is relatively weak, they may not be able to digest and absorb some full-term formula, which can easily increase the burden on the gastrointestinal tract. If the baby's development is currently good, you can switch to ordinary formula. During the transition between two formula brands, there should first be a gradual shift; you can start by mixing the two formulas, using more preterm formula and less ordinary formula. Gradually switch to the new ordinary formula brand, reducing the amount of preterm formula, allowing the baby to adapt gradually.

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Written by Zhang Lu
Obstetrics
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Signs of premature birth

Preterm birth refers to childbirth occurring between 28 and 36 weeks plus six days of pregnancy. The signs of preterm birth include the following aspects. First, regular contractions occur, generally defined as four contractions within 20 minutes or eight contractions within 60 minutes. Second, there may be a small amount of "show," mainly due to minor bleeding caused by the separation of the fetal membrane from the uterine wall. Third, many women experience a significant feeling of heaviness in the lower abdomen, which is caused by the descent of the fetal head. Fourth, upon examination, it can be found that the cervical canal has shortened and the cervical opening has dilated. When the above symptoms occur, there should be a high suspicion of the risk of preterm birth, and medications should be used promptly as an intervention to try to avoid the occurrence of preterm birth.

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Written by Yue Hua
Obstetrics and Gynecology
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Premature birth is how many months?

Preterm birth refers to a newborn born between 28 and less than 38 weeks of pregnancy. Moreover, at this time, the heart size is generally more than 1000 grams. There are many reasons for this occurrence, most of which are related to intrauterine infection in pregnant women, such as patients with premature rupture of membranes or chorioamnionitis are prone to preterm birth. Additionally, if there has been a previous pregnancy, abortion, with a short interval between them, or if an ultrasound detects that the cervical length is less than 25 millimeters, there is also an increased likelihood of preterm birth.