Is premature birth hereditary?

Written by Du Rui Xia
Obstetrics
Updated on September 17, 2024
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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.

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Written by Liu Wei Jie
Obstetrics
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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.

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Written by Du Rui Xia
Obstetrics
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Does premature birth affect intelligence?

Premature birth generally does not affect a baby's intellectual development, as the brain is mostly well-developed by the time of premature birth, and intelligence is not greatly affected. With appropriate nutrition post-birth, the intelligence of premature babies can generally recover to that of average children. However, if the baby experiences intrauterine hypoxia during premature birth, this can affect the brain cells and may even lead to cerebral palsy. Therefore, it is important to closely monitor the baby's diet and neurological responsiveness if premature birth occurs. If there are concerns, a hospital check-up can be conducted to promptly identify any issues with the child.

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Written by Liu Wen Li
Obstetrics
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Does placenta previa cause preterm birth?

Placenta previa is likely to lead to premature birth. Why is that? Placenta previa refers to the condition where the placenta is positioned lower in the uterus, and the most common symptom is recurrent, painless bleeding during pregnancy. This is because the low-lying placenta often leads to frequent bleeding. If the bleeding is minimal, there is still hope to maintain the pregnancy, allowing the fetus to grow longer inside the uterus. However, in the event of heavy bleeding, if the baby remains in the uterus without delivery, a critical situation can arise due to blood loss, potentially leading to the disappearance of fetal heart activity. At this point, the pregnancy would need to be terminated, thus often resulting in premature birth.

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Written by Du Rui Xia
Obstetrics
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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.

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Written by Zhao Li Li
Obstetrics
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Causes of Premature Birth

Generally, there are many reasons that can cause symptoms of preterm birth. Normally, due to reasons such as cervical dilation, or the occurrence of regular abdominal pain, preterm labor may be induced. In some cases, long-term vaginal inflammatory conditions can lead to premature rupture of membranes, or cervical canal dilation may also cause preterm birth. If symptoms of preterm birth occur at present, it is necessary to actively suppress contractions, protect the fetus, and provide symptomatic treatment. If this is ineffective, it is advisable to actively prepare for rescuing and caring for the newborn.