Pregnant women are said to experience premature birth when they feel contractions that result in the opening of the cervix before the 37th week of gestation. This condition certainly needs to be watched out for, because premature birth increases the risk of various serious problems in the baby. This is why mothers need to know how to prevent premature birth.
Most babies born prematurely require intensive care in the hospital. The reason is, premature babies also have the potential to have long-term physical disabilities and mental disorders. There are many things that can increase the risk of premature birth, but these conditions can also occur in pregnant women who are not at risk.
How to Prevent Premature Birth
The risk of preterm birth is higher for pregnant women who have given birth prematurely before, have low body weight, are less than 17 years old or more than 35 years old at the time of pregnancy, and have short pregnancies.
Not only that, but premature babies are also more at risk for pregnant women with certain medical conditions. Examples include hypertension, heart defects, preeclampsia, and diabetes. An unhealthy lifestyle also plays a role, such as bad habits of smoking, consuming alcoholic beverages, working at night, and severe stress.
In order to avoid this condition, here are some ways to prevent premature birth that mothers can try:
1. Eat healthy food
2. Consider the spacing between pregnancies
3. Avoid smoking and exposure to cigarette smoke
4. Manage stress
5. Do routine pregnancy checks
Read more about pregnancy care