Is a uterus in the mediastinum prone to preterm birth?

Written by Hou Jie
Obstetrics and Gynecology
Updated on April 11, 2025
00:00
00:00

Women with a septate uterus, if pregnant, are much more likely to experience premature birth compared to women with a normal uterus. The normal uterine cavity size accommodates the development of the embryo until full term. However, the likelihood of premature birth varies depending on the development of the septate uterus. Once diagnosed with a septate uterus, extra caution is needed during pregnancy, especially avoiding intercourse in the late stages of pregnancy to prevent premature birth, as the risks associated with preterm infants are significantly higher than those for full-term infants. Therefore, pregnant women with a septate uterus need to pay extra attention.

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Du Rui Xia
Obstetrics
51sec home-news-image

Is low amniotic fluid likely to lead to premature birth?

During pregnancy, if there is a reduction in amniotic fluid, it is easy for premature delivery to occur. Insufficient amniotic fluid can cause fetal hypoxia in the uterus, which may lead to frequent fetal movements and stimulate uterine contractions, resulting in premature birth. When there is a reduction in amniotic fluid, it is important to replenish it in a timely manner. This can be done by drinking more water, intravenous fluid infusion, or directly injecting saline into the amniotic cavity. To determine the best method to replenish the amniotic fluid, it is advisable to seek treatment under the guidance of a doctor and to closely monitor changes in fetal heart rate and movements.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Liu Wei Jie
Obstetrics
1min 8sec home-news-image

What is the earliest gestational week that a premature baby can survive?

Preterm infants, how many weeks can survive, first let's talk about the concept of preterm birth. The concept of preterm birth is more than 28 weeks but less than 37 weeks, this is called premature birth. However, with the improvement of neonatal resuscitation technology, in China, if it’s after 26 weeks, the vast majority of newborns can also survive. But after survival, the cost is quite high. For instance, if it's in a top-tier hospital, the cost for newborns born between 26 and 28 weeks can be around several hundred thousand yuan. So, even after some medical insurance policy reimbursements, you would still have to spend around tens of thousands of yuan on your own.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Du Rui Xia
Obstetrics
47sec home-news-image

Is premature birth hereditary?

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.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Liu Wei Jie
Obstetrics
44sec home-news-image

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.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zhao Li Li
Obstetrics
51sec home-news-image

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.