Posts Tagged ‘premature births’
Causes of prematurity
Currently, prenatal diagnosis detects not only problems but also maternal fetal problems. Control of the welfare check and allow normal fetal abnormalities and even perform intrauterine fetal treatments.
Checks can be made through:
• Ultrasound or ultrasonography is a diagnostic over the image to visualize through sound waves like a baby grows. It also allows measuring the baby in the uterus and assess its size to calculate indirectly gestational age.
• Alpha-fetoprotein: a blood test to detect problems with the brain or spine in the baby.
• Amniocentesis: an analysis of the liquid in which the baby is being developed to detect genetic disorders. Lets also known fetal lung maturity when the study was done in about the 36th week of pregnancy.
Statistics indicate that preterm births have not declined despite advances and regular checks of pregnancy. In Argentina, about 10% of deliveries take place before completion of pregnancy, ie before 37 weeks.
Rest and medication can help prevent contractions and labor before the expected date. When the causes of prematurity are known as incompetent cervix or placental problems. The risk is higher when an infection in the placenta and the fluid bathing the baby. Continuous monitoring is important as bacteriological analysis in order to administer the antibiotic to treat the infection.
The groups at highest risk of preterm labor:
* With a history of:
- One or more abortions or premature deliveries.
- Two or more elective abortions.
- Operations of the cervix.
* During pregnancy:
- Twin pregnancy.
- Increase in amniotic fluid.
- Much stress (physical or psychological).
- Multiple pregnancies.
- Pregnancies that have not previously been viable and current authorized but often end in premature birth by having major pathologies or elderly mother.