Premature birth is what it means.

Written by Zhang Lu
Obstetrics
Updated on April 01, 2025
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Preterm birth refers to giving birth before full-term pregnancy, defined as delivery occurring between 28 and 36 weeks plus 6 days of gestation. Corresponding conditions are miscarriage and full-term delivery: before 28 weeks is termed a miscarriage, while delivery after 37 weeks is termed full-term birth. Because preterm infants already possess certain vital functions, most can survive with appropriate emergency intervention and treatment. However, the risks associated with preterm birth are relatively high and depend on the specific causes of prematurity. Some premature births are due to premature rupture of membranes, while others are medically induced, for example in cases of abruptio placentae or severe preeclampsia. Therefore, it is crucial in clinical practice to provide rational treatment for preterm labor, aiming to extend the duration of pregnancy as much as possible to avoid neonatal death.

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Written by Zhao Li Li
Obstetrics
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What are the signs of premature birth?

Under normal circumstances, during preterm labor, there may first be regular uterine contractions accompanied by continuous cervical dilation. This situation should be considered a possible onset of preterm labor. Generally, the period from after 28 weeks to before 37 weeks of gestation is considered the possible range for preterm labor to occur. Therefore, if there are symptoms like regular abdominal pain, backache, or a feeling of heaviness, it is necessary to seek medical attention promptly. When needed, local physical therapy, symptomatic treatment, or administration of medications to sustain the pregnancy can effectively alleviate the symptoms.

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Written by Zhang Lu
Obstetrics
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Premature birth refers to childbirth happening before the normal completion of pregnancy, specifically before 37 weeks of gestation.

Premature birth, as the name implies, occurs when labor happens too early. Premature birth is generally defined by gestational age, specifically when delivery occurs between 28 and 36 weeks and 6 days of pregnancy. In contrast, miscarriage refers to delivery before 28 weeks; full-term birth refers to delivery between 37 and 41 weeks and 6 days; and post-term birth refers to delivery after 42 weeks of pregnancy. Premature birth can be quite harmful to the fetus, as during this period the fetus is smaller in size and less mature. If premature birth occurs, the survival rate of the fetus is relatively low. Causes of premature birth in clinical practice include vaginal inflammation, premature rupture of membranes, twin pregnancy, and shortened cervical canal. Therefore, prevention of premature birth should target these underlying causes.

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Written by Zhang Lu
Obstetrics
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Definition of premature birth date

Premature birth, compared to miscarriage and full-term birth, is defined differently. A miscarriage refers to childbirth before 28 weeks, and a full-term birth is one that occurs after 37 weeks. Births that occur between 28 weeks and 36 weeks plus 6 days are collectively referred to as premature births. During this period, the fetus is relatively larger and has a certain level of maturity, so the survival rate is relatively high. However, it still falls short when compared to full-term infants. Generally, 34 weeks is used as a boundary: infants born from 28 to 34 weeks are referred to as early preterm, while those born between 34 weeks and 36 weeks plus 6 days are considered late preterm. Therefore, premature births are divided into these two main categories. In clinical practice, if there are signs of premature birth, it is recommended to try to extend the gestational age and aim for childbirth during the late preterm period.

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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 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.