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Pregnancy and birth<\/span> are full of unexpected ups and downs. Although it\u2019s something all mammals go through in one way or another, there\u2019s a lot of misunderstanding about what\u2019s actually going on in a pregnant or birthing body.<\/span><\/p>\n One thing that\u2019s on the mind of a lot of pregnant people is when they will give birth, and what the potential risks are if they happen to have their baby (or babies) before they are due. According to the <\/span>World Health Organization<\/span>, more than 1 in 10 babies are born too early every year.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n While a lot of things are out of your control, education is the first step you can take toward being proactive about your pregnancy and your birth. It\u2019s time to expand your pregnancy knowledge by learning about preterm birth.<\/span><\/p>\n There\u2019s often confusion about what exactly a preterm birth is. Preterm birth is when a baby is born before 37 weeks gestation, or before the end of term.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n This can be broken down further into:<\/span><\/p>\n These guidelines may vary depending on the country, but this is the general consensus from the WHO.<\/span><\/p>\n Many preterm babies go on without any issues, especially those born into families with access to proper medical care and resources.<\/span><\/p>\n Complications from preterm birth are the leading cause of death among children aged 5 and under. It\u2019s estimated that 75% of these deaths could be prevented with access to proper medical care and interventions.<\/span><\/p>\n These are the most common complications for babies born preterm:<\/span><\/p>\n Complications for babies who are born preterm may be minimized with skin-to-skin contact, lactation or feeding support, and medical care for infections, or breathing difficulties.<\/span><\/p>\n It\u2019s not always known what causes preterm birth, but some <\/span>factors<\/span> can increase someone\u2019s risk.<\/span><\/p>\n Unfortunately, many of the complications that occur from preterm births happen in areas where people don\u2019t have access to proper medical care or don\u2019t have the resources to pay for it. The conversation around <\/span>reproductive justice<\/span> is huge and plays a big role in preterm birth.<\/span><\/p>\n That being said, there are steps you can take to help minimize your risk of preterm birth and the potential complications that can come with it.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n We can\u2019t say it enough that most complications in pregnancy and birth are out of your control, but there are steps you can take to help minimize your risk by taking care of your pregnant body:<\/span><\/p>\n No matter how you take care of your body during pregnancy, know that having a baby preterm is not your fault. While there are big steps you can take to prevent preterm birth from happening like not smoking or drinking alcohol during pregnancy, a lot of things are more nuanced, and not something you should feel responsible for or ashamed of.<\/span><\/p>\n It doesn\u2019t always feel like it when you\u2019re navigating reproductive healthcare, but you have autonomy over your body, your medical care, your pregnancy, and your birth. Knowing your options means understanding what\u2019s going on with your pregnant body, what different medical terms in birth mean, what\u2019s necessary in terms of medical care, and what\u2019s not.<\/span><\/p>\n It can feel overwhelming to figure all this out. That\u2019s why it can be incredibly helpful to go to childbirth education classes and build your support system.<\/span><\/p>\n You\u2019re not an island, and you shouldn\u2019t have to do this on your own. Having a support system can help lower your stress levels, help you better understand your options, and not feel isolated in your experience.<\/span><\/p>\n Your support system may include:<\/span><\/p>\n If you\u2019re experiencing anxiety or uncertainty during your pregnancy, this is totally understandable. Especially if you have experienced difficulties with fertility before. Unknowns can be scary, but remember that this is your body, your baby, and your birth.<\/span><\/p>\n We know the impact that having a baby born prematurely can have on your mental health. If this is you, please lean on the resources and support system you have like the ones mentioned above, and any social workers or mental health practitioners that the hospital makes available to you.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\nWhat Is a Preterm Birth?<\/h2>\n
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Complications of a Preterm Birth<\/h2>\n
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Risk Factors for a Preterm Birth<\/h2>\n
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Minimize Your Risk<\/h2>\n
Take care of your growing body<\/b><\/h3>\n
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Know your options<\/b><\/h3>\n
Build your support system<\/h3>\n
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Your Body, Your Birth<\/b><\/h2>\n