Preterm Birth: Symptoms and Precautions

Preterm birth is a birth that occurs before week 37. It accounts for approximately 10% of all births. This means the baby is born before their organs — especially the lungs, brain, and digestive system — have had the chance to fully mature.

Risk factors: Previous preterm birth history (strongest risk factor), multiple pregnancy, cervical insufficiency, infections, preeclampsia, smoking and substance use, excessive stress, short interval between pregnancies, and age factors can increase risk. Having these risk factors shouldn't alarm you — much can be managed with regular monitoring.

Symptoms worth paying attention to: Regular contractions (coming every 10 minutes or more often, 6 or more per hour), continuous back pain, pelvic pressure sensation, changes in vaginal discharge, water breaking or leaking, vaginal bleeding. If you experience any of these symptoms, contacting your doctor is the safest approach.

Prevention and protection: Regular prenatal checkups, early treatment of infections, reducing smoking and stress, adequate nutrition and fluid intake can help. If you're in a risk group, your doctor may recommend progesterone treatment or cervical cerclage. In the case of preterm labor threat, corticosteroid treatment can be applied to support the baby's lung maturation.