According to recent statistics, African American women are 50% more likely to have a preterm or premature baby than other ethnicities.
While the causes behind this frightening data haven’t been clearly identified, it’s certainly a sign that every woman needs to know how to handle this event if it were to happen.
Other Factors That Influence Preterm Labor
Apart from ethnicity, a few other factors can increase your risk of going into preterm labor. These factors include:
- Prior preterm labor or birth
- Having a shortened cervix
- Being pregnant with multiples
- Certain infections
- Being a younger or older mom
- The time span between pregnancies – less than 12 months or more than 5 years
- Smoking
- Drug use
- Having too much amniotic fluid
- Issues with the uterus or placenta
- Incidents of vaginal bleeding during the pregnancy
- Chronic illnesses or disorders such as high blood pressure, diabetes, depression, and autoimmune conditions.
With such varying risk factors, it’s vital that you give your doctor a detailed account of any past pregnancies as well as any new issues that might have arisen since becoming pregnant.
You May Also Like
In some cases, it’s possible to prevent preterm labor through treatments and strict monitoring.
Typical Signs of Preterm Labor
Despite being cautious and being monitored, preterm labor can still occur. When that happens, make sure you contact your doctor quickly. It’s better to be safe and get the right course of treatment.
Sometimes, there are measures that can be taken to delay delivery a bit. If nothing can be done, at least your baby will be delivered safely. Here are the signs to bear in mind.
