Premature birth refers to childbirth happening before the normal completion of pregnancy, specifically before 37 weeks of gestation.

Written by Zhang Lu
Obstetrics
Updated on February 20, 2025
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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 Zhao Li Li
Obstetrics
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What does it feel like when the cervix opens prematurely?

Under normal circumstances, if preterm labor is already confirmed and the cervix is fully dilated, it is generally considered inevitable and preparations for the active resuscitation of the newborn should be made. Typically, if the cervix is fully dilated due to preterm labor, regular abdominal pain may first occur along with discomfort in the lower abdomen, indicating strong uterine contractions. After the uterus contracts, this leads to continuous dilation of the cervix until it expands to ten centimeters. Once fully dilated, the next steps in treatment are carried out, closely monitoring the condition of the premature infant after birth and providing symptomatic medication if necessary.

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Written by Zhao Li Li
Obstetrics
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Is it normal for a premature baby to weigh more than five jin?

If the newborn is currently premature and weighs a bit over five jin (approximately 2.5 kilograms), it is generally considered within the normal range. Typically, if a newborn weighs more than 2500 grams, it is considered a full-term birth weight and there are no abnormalities. Therefore, if the newborn's weight is within the normal range after birth and there are no abnormalities in the development of the organs, it is possible to observe temporarily without the need for an incubator. It is also crucial to closely monitor the various vital signs of the newborn and pay attention to normal feeding and care.

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Written by Zhang Lu
Obstetrics
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Will swollen feet during pregnancy lead to premature birth?

Swelling of the feet is a common clinical symptom after pregnancy, but generally, foot swelling is not directly related to preterm birth. However, sometimes, if pathological factors cause foot swelling, it may lead to preterm birth. The most common cause of foot swelling during pregnancy is the increased size of the uterus compressing the veins and arteries in the pelvis, causing obstruction of venous return, which leads to swelling of the feet. However, this is a physiological change and does not cause preterm birth. Pathological factors, such as hypertension during pregnancy or renal diseases during pregnancy, might cause generalized edema. If the condition is severe, medical intervention for medically induced preterm birth may be required. However, it is the primary disease that causes preterm birth, not the swelling of the feet.

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Written by Zhao Li Li
Obstetrics
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Does premature birth hypoxia affect intelligence?

Under normal circumstances, if a preterm infant suffers from hypoxia, severe cases may have an impact on future intelligence. However, if preterm infants experience hypoxia after childbirth, they generally receive oxygen therapy, which also affects their intelligence to some extent. Therefore, in daily life, it is still necessary to strengthen the care of preterm infants, adjust their diet, and after oxygenation, appropriately supplement DHA and other substances that can promote brain development and effectively improve issues such as delayed brain development in infants and toddlers.

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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.