Premature Babies: Information and Warning Signs

The fear of having a premature baby can be a devastating time for any mom. While most women have perfectly healthy full-term babies, there are many who don't quite meet the 37-40 week deadline. On average, 9% of infants are born prematurely.

Luckily today, technology has come incredibly far and more babies are being saved every day. A child born as early as 25 weeks has a 50% chance of survival. Unfortunately, even though your child may survive they will most likely have medical issues if they are born early. Some issues can be treated over time or with surgery, while others may be a lifelong battle.

All premie babies must go into neonatal care which can be very expensive. The cost for this facility usually ranges from $20,000-$100,000. A single day in neonatal intensive care can cost up to $3,000.00.

Although science is still working to find out the exact reasoning for premature births, they do have known risk factors that have been proven to be associated with early labor.

Some of these risks include:

A weak cervix
Multiple fetuses
Fetal abnormalities
Poor nutrition
Maternal Infections
Smoking, drug use, and alcohol consumption
Lifting heavy items
Prolonged standing

Be sure to attend all of your prenatal check-ups to ensure your pregnancy is going smooth. If you have any concerns that you might be at risk for a preterm delivery, be sure to discuss them immediately with your OBGYN.

Some warning signs for a possible preterm delivery include:

Contractions every 10 minutes
Pressure in the pelvis that feels as if your baby is pushing down
Low backaches that feel like menstrual cramps
Fluid or blood coming from the vagina
Changed in vaginal discharge from a creamy white to thin and mucousy