What are the signs of premature birth?

Written by Du Rui Xia
Obstetrics
Updated on September 27, 2024
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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.

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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.

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Written by Zhao Li Li
Obstetrics
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What are the symptoms of preterm labor?

According to the current situation, generally, embryos delivered between 28 to 37 weeks of cessation of menstruation are considered preterm. Under normal circumstances, if there is already regular abdominal pain accompanied by abdominal bloating and uterine contractions, it is generally considered whether there is a possibility of threatened miscarriage. Normally, frequent uterine contractions and abdominal hardening can stimulate cervical dilation, which generally may lead to preterm birth. Therefore, these are the signs of preterm labor. If regular abdominal pain occurs and persists for several hours without relief, it is advisable to seek medical attention promptly for treatment to prevent premature birth.

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Written by Liu Wen Li
Obstetrics
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How to induce lactation in premature births

The lactation induction for premature births is actually the same as for full-term births. First and foremost, it starts with the individual. Through diet, the amount of breast milk can be increased, for example, by consuming more soups, such as rice porridge, noodle soup, milk, and soy milk. Since 90% of breast milk is water, replenishing water is essential for sufficient milk supply. Additionally, it is important to keep a pleasant mood. The mother should be happy and have enough sleep, as these factors can help increase milk production. Moreover, it is important to let the baby nurse more frequently and intensively, because the act of breastfeeding stimulates the breasts as a reflex. The more frequently and the more the baby nurses, the more milk is produced through this reflex. What should one do if the baby is premature and in pediatrics? In such cases, it's necessary to pump milk every 3 hours. Pumping itself also creates stimulation that promotes milk secretion.

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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 Zhang Lu
Obstetrics
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What are the symptoms of premature birth?

Premature birth refers to delivery occurring between 28 and 36+6 weeks of pregnancy. The symptoms of premature birth primarily include the following aspects: First, regular uterine contractions occur. These contractions can lead to the descent of the fetal head and exert pressure on the cervix, which is necessary for the delivery of the fetus. It generally manifests as pain every three to five minutes, with each episode of pain lasting more than one minute, and both the frequency and intensity of the pain gradually increasing. Second, the appearance of "bloody show" occurs. As the fetus descends, it can cause the rupture of capillaries at the edge of the membranes, leading to bloody show. Third, there is a noticeable feeling of heaviness or pressure. Gynecological examinations can reveal dilation of the cervix and shortening of the cervical canal. When these symptoms appear, an assessment for premature birth should be conducted, and preparations for premature delivery should be made.