Why Are Babies Born Premature: Symptoms and Causes

Delivery a premature baby is a tougher job for the parents to take care of. Premature birth is the birth of the baby before 37 weeks of gestation. It is an unplanned event.

Depending upon the causes of the birth and how premature the baby is, it may also be an emergency.

Well in this article you will opt to know about the premature birth causes and the best ways to prevent premature birth.

Why Are Babies Born Pre-Mature?

Premature birth is a birth that takes place more than three weeks before the baby’s estimated due date of delivery. In other words, premature birth is one that occurs before the start of the 37th week of pregnancy as I mentioned above.

Premature babies, especially those born very early, often have complicated medical problems as per many studies. Typically, complications of prematurity vary from one to another. It is given the fact that the earlier the baby is born, the higher the risk of complications increases.

The babies born before 37 weeks are premature. Premature birth is more likely to happen when a mother has a health problem like diabetes or does take smoke or drink and other harmful things during her pregnancy. In stress also a mother can also have a premature baby delivery.

There are many other health related problems that can lead to the premature birth cause. In the later part of the article, we will focus on the reasons why babies are born prematurely.

There are Sub-Categories of Preterm Birth, Based on Gestational Age:

• extremely preterm (less than 28 weeks)
• very preterm (28 to 32 weeks)
• moderate to late preterm (32 to 37 weeks).

Statistical Data Of Premature Baby:

As per the Medical advance data, more than 9 out of 10 premature babies survive, and most go on to develop normally in the course of time.

In Australia, almost 1 in every 10 babies are born prematurely. Most Australian premature babies are born between 32 and 36 weeks and don’t have any serious long-term problems further.

Normally premature babies are at a higher risk of developmental problems. It is possible for babies born at 23-24 weeks to survive, but it is very risky and complicated.

Most babies born before 32 weeks, and those weighing 2.5 kg or less, may need help breathing and may be cared for in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) (R) until they have developed enough to survive on their own. Babies born between 32 and 37 weeks may need care in a special care nursery (SCN) (R)

Symptoms Of Pre-Matured Baby:

There are certain symptoms that can help to figure out the prematurity of the baby-

• Small size, with a disproportionately large head
• Sharper looking, less rounded features than a full-term baby’s features, due to a lack of fat stores
• Fine hair covering much of the body.
• Low body temperature, especially immediately after birth in the delivery room, due to a lack of stored body fat
• Labored breathing or respiratory distress
• Lack of reflexes for sucking and swallowing, leading to feeding difficulties

Weight, length and head circumference by gestational age for boys

Weight, length and head circumference by gestational age for girls

What Causes Babies To Be Born Prematurity?

The exact cause can’t be able to figure out properly. However, a certain factor is known to increase a women’s risk of going into labor early. Some of the causes are as follows-

• Diabetes
• Heart diseases
• Kidney diseases
• High blood pressure

Some of the other factors related to pregnancy are as follows-

• poor nutrition and diets before and during pregnancy
• smoking
• Taking or drinking too much alcohol during pregnancy.
• It also includes certain infections during pregnancy such as urinary tract and amniotic membrane infections.
• If there is a premature birth in a previous pregnancy.
• If there is an abnormal uterus in pregnant women.
• The cervix opened too early.

[Read: Best Foods To Eat During Pregnancy]

Certain More Chances are as Follows-

1. Infection:

Premature baby happens to occur due to infection present in the mother’s womb. Systemic inflammation or infection can cause pregnant women to have their babies early. The infection can happen in the vagina, kidney, or uterus, etc.

2. Cervical Problem:

The insufficient (R)  or short cervix is one of the major causes of premature babies. The risk of premature birth is more and high. This is high if the mother is having higher or having labor symptoms.

3. Smoking:

Smoking is very dangerous for a mother. That may be any kind of tobacco. While smoking the nicotine from smoking causes blood vessels in the uterus to constrict and that prevents the nutrients and oxygen from getting the baby early or contribute to early labor.

4. Stress:

Stress is one of the causes or reasons why babies are born prematurely. The chronic, high level of psychological stress causes the labor to start early and lead to a premature baby.

5. Short Time Pregnancy:

As per the research, the risk of preterm birth is two times higher than normal if pregnancies are less than six months gaps.

6. Carrying Twins, Triplets or More:

As per the studies, pregnant with more than one baby cause the uterus to become overdistended, which can cause labor to start early. It is said that the more you carry the more is the chance of getting birth of a premature baby is more.

7. Genetics:

Genetics also plays play another important role in premature birth cause. If anyone in your family had premature birth like your mother or sister then the chances or risk is high.

Effects Of Premature Birth On Child Development:

There are certain premature baby complication involves the early development, such as-

1. Breathing Problems:

As per the studies, a premature baby has more chances of developing breathing problems due to an immature respiratory system. This happens due to early delivery. If the baby’s lungs lack surfactant then it leads to breathing problems.

This substance ‘surfactant” allows the lungs to expand and helps in developing respiratory distress syndrome. The lungs can’t contract normally.

However, there is a chance in case of premature babies may also develop a lung disorder known as bronchopulmonary dysplasia. Some babies may also experience a prolonged pause in their breathing, which is known as apnea.

2. Heart Problems:

Here comes with more complicated effects of premature birth on child development. The most common heart problems premature babies experiences are patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) and low blood pressure (hypotension).

PDA is a persistent opening between the aorta and pulmonary artery. While this heart defect often closes on its own, left untreated it can lead to a heart murmur, heart failure as well as other complications.

In certain cases the low blood pressure may require adjustments in intravenous fluids, medicines and sometimes blood transfusions.

3. Brain Problems;

The brain is all in all. As all, we know. Premature delivery can affects the brain also. As per the expert the earlier a baby is born, the greater the risk of bleeding in the brain, and which is known as an intraventricular hemorrhage.

In some cases of a premature baby, there is a mild hemorrhages effects and resolve with little short-term impact on child development. Whereas in some babies it may have larger brain bleeding that can cause permanent brain injury.

4. Temperature Control Problems:

Here are other effects of premature babies. Premature babies can lose body heat rapidly. They don’t have the stored body fat like a full-term infant, and they can’t generate enough heat to counteract what’s lost through the surface of their bodies. If body temperature dips too low, an abnormally low core body temperature (hypothermia) can result.

In a premature baby, hypothermia can lead to breathing problems and low blood sugar levels. In normal the premature infant may use up all of the energy that is gained from feedings in order to stay warm. That is the reason when the premature baby is smaller enough they stay in warm for a while until they come up to a normal phase of development.

5. Gastrointestinal Problems;

Premature infants are more likely to have immature gastrointestinal systems, resulting in complications such as necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). This is a serious condition, in which the cells lining the bowel wall are injured,

This can occur in premature babies after they start feeding also. The baby who receives only breast milk has a much lower risk of developing NEC in case of premature birth.

6. Blood Problems:

The risk of blood problems such as anemia and newborn jaundice is more in the case of a premature birth baby. Anemia is a common condition in which the body doesn’t have enough red blood cells. It is observed that all newborns experience a slow drop in red blood cell count during the first months of life, and the level of the decrease may be greater in premature babies.

Newborn jaundice is a yellow discoloration in a baby’s skin and eyes that occurs because the baby’s blood contains excess bilirubin, a yellow-colored substance, from the liver or red blood cells. While there are many causes of jaundice, it is more common in preterm babies.

7. Metabolism Problems:

This is the first and foremost problem with their metabolism. In many of the case, premature babies may develop an abnormality at a low level of blood sugar (hypoglycemia).

This can happen because premature infants typically have smaller stores of stored glucose than do full-term babies. Premature babies also have more difficulty in converting their stored glucose into active forms of glucose which is more useful and valuable.

8.Immune system Problems:

An in the proper immune system or not yet devolved properly is common in premature babies, and that can lead to a higher risk of infection. Infection in a premature baby can quickly spread to the bloodstream, causing sepsis, an infection that spreads to the bloodstream.

9.Cerebral Palsy:

This are more serious medical effects of premature birth on child development. Cerebral palsy is a disorder of movement, muscle tone or posture that can be caused by infection.  The inadequate blood flow or injury to a newborn may develop brain either early during pregnancy or while the baby is still young and immature.

10.Impaired Learning:

Premature babies are can also have a chance of developing impaired learning and that affects a long term learning process. During the school age, a child who was born prematurely might be more likely to have learning disabilities and have difficulties in remembering.

11.Vision Problems;

Here are other major problems associated with a premature baby as this may develop retinopathy of prematurity. This is a disease that occurs when blood vessels swell and overgrow in the light-sensitive layer of nerves at the back of the eye (retina).

In case of the abnormal retinal vessels gradually scar the retina, pulling it out of position. Retinal detachment is called when the retina is pulled away from the back of the eye.

This is a condition that, can impair vision and cause blindness even in a child.

Ways To Prevent Premature Birth:

There are the best healthy ways to prevent premature birth. This will lead to a healthy pregnancy birth. Some of the ways are as follows-

• Start with quitting smoking before your pregnancy or as early as you are planning to have a baby. This point is for women who are used to smoking.
• Make sure you avoid drinking alcohol and using any kind of recreational drugs while pregnant or during pregnancy.
• Before you take any medicine, talk to your health care provider of all medications that you are taking for the reason of what. Some medications can be harmful to you during pregnancy.
• Make sure you maintain an adequate amount of weight gain throughout your pregnancy, depending on your age and height.
• Eat a nutritious and well-balanced diet before or during pregnancy is very much important and necessary for a healthy and wealthy baby. This is important for nutrition and optimal prenatal care is especially important under age 17 years old mother, over 35 years of mothers, or carrying twins or multiple babies.
• Make sure the pregnant women should avoid heavy lifting and work, and standing for long periods of time.
• Make sure the pregnant women should minimize the level of stress in their life surrounding them. No matter whatever the situation is all about. Do deal with stress using certain relaxation techniques, exercise, nutrition, and rest.
• To attend the prenatal classes whenever you are in the phase of delivery or pregnancy.
• You need to take care of infections and try to avoid it as much as possible you can.
• If you have a history of premature birth caused by structural abnormalities of the uterus, these abnormalities may be corrected with surgery before you become pregnant
• Premature delivery due to the incompetent cervix can be reduced with a surgical procedure that closes the cervix from the 14th week of pregnancy until the ninth month.
• There are certain chronic maternal illnesses that can lead to premature birth if they are not treated properly during pregnancy. They need to be appropriately managed during pregnancy.
• If your health care provider thinks you are at high risk for premature labor, they may suggest that you refrain from having sexual intercourse.

Pregnancy is a very important and crucial stage for a mother to pass on. So thew mother has to be very careful with taking care of herself. A little mistake or negligible can create a bigger challenge or issue. So be take care of yourself. I hope this article has provided you good information about the reasons why babies are born premature and the best ways to prevent premature birth.