Leading Obstetrician Los Angeles Answers FAQS About Premature Births

By Jessica Morgan


Every mother experiences a wonderful time during pregnancy. All the excitement can even so turn into anxiety if things do not work as they should. Among the greatest fears faced by mothers during pregnancy is the risk of premature delivery. It is vital to work with a seasoned and compassionate specialist who can provide plenty of information regarding the logistics of premature births. During the hunt for an outstanding obstetrician Los Angeles is a good place to begin your research.

Most mothers will want to know what is premature birth. Well, this is the term used for deliveries that take place three or more weeks before the expected date of birth. Usually, pregnancies last for about 40 weeks, even though most children born after 37 weeks are perfectly healthy.

Late preterm, extremely preterm and very preterm are the three categories of premature births. When an infant is born following 32 weeks of pregnancy, then this is referred to as very preterm. Extremely preterm is the term given to deliveries that table place before 28 weeks of gestation. On the other hand, child births between 34 and 37 weeks are referred to as late preterm.

The rate of premature births varies from one part of the world to another. However, this rate is considerably lower in the USA as well as in other developed countries. Currently in the Unites States, about one out of ten infants is born premature. Eight percent of these infants are born underweight or below eight ounces and five pounds.

At this point, you are possibly wondering what causes premature deliveries. Well, it is true that some patients are exposed to risk factors that can increase their chances of giving birth to a premature child. These risk factors include using illegal drugs, gynecological issues, smoking cigarettes, pregnancy with multiples and a history of premature deliveries. Patients living with chronic health issues like diabetes and blood pressure could also be at higher risk of delivering a baby prematurely.

It is possible for a child to survive even after being delivered prematurely. At this point, mothers will need to know about the health complications that they are at risk of suffering. To begin with, the odds of a premature baby surviving will depend on how soon the delivery took place. It will also depend on whether there were heart and lung problems among other life-threatening defects.

The world of medicine has advanced tremendously over the years and there are new technologies and techniques that assist infants who survive after being born prematurely to have a good chance of thriving. It is even so important for parents to have a rough idea about the possible long term and short term health complications that a child may suffer.

Some of the temporary complications that a premature baby may suffer include heart issues, breathing problems, anemia, weak immune system, jaundice or apnea. On the other hand, such children are at risk of suffering from long-term complications such as breathing, hearing and vision problems, cerebral palsy and learning impediments. Visiting a dependable obstetrician the moment you begin planning to conceive could reduce your chances of delivering a baby prematurely.




About the Author: