Preterm or premature delivery usually comes from increasing complications that come before the birth of the baby. Ideally, preterm labour occurs when labour comes too early between 20 and 37 weeks of pregnancy. In comparison, full-term labour lasts for 40 weeks.
This usually creates complications for the mum and the baby, and can also increase the risk with regard to the child’s health in the long run.
While babies do recover and go on to lead normal lives as adults, the first few weeks after birth can be particularly daunting for the little one and the mum.
While there are several factors that can indicate preterm labour in a pregnancy, a new study aims to make that prediction as true as possible, which could be a big breakthrough in resolving childbirth complications.
Vaginal Health Could Help Track Preterm Delivery
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A new study suggests that vaginal health problems could predict the likelihood of a baby being born preterm. The study published in JCI Insight, states that certain bacteria and metabolites in the cervicovaginal fluid can raise or lower the risk of premature delivery.
As part of the study, researchers took two vaginal samples from pregnant mums over the course of their pregnancies. They took one sample between 10-15 week period of the pregnancy, while the other one was taken between the 16-23 week period. The sample size comprised 346 women, out of which 60 women had preterm deliveries.
Researchers concluded that the presence of bacteria, “two lactobacilli, L. crispatus and L. acidophilus,” in abundant amount lowered the risk of preterm birth before 34 weeks of gestation.
More Studies Indicate Similar Results
This isn’t the first study though that connects vaginal health problems with preterm birth. A similar study published in 2019 found that women who delivered prematurely were more likely to have lower levels of Lactobacillus crispatus.
The study also found that women who had preterm deliveries also had higher rates of BVAB1, Sneathia amnii, TM7-H1, a group of Prevotella species and nine additional taxa.
Another 2019 study indicates the same. This study found that seven specific bacterial taxa increased the risk of preterm birth, and was most commonly seen in black women.
Preterm Births: A Global Issue
The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that about 15 million babies are born too early every year. That’s about one in 10 babies being born prematurely.
The data shared also states that about one million children die annually due to complications from premature delivery.
Globally, premature birth is the leading cause of death in children below five years, says the WHO. Over 60 per cent of the world’s preterm births occur in Africa and South Asia and is more prominently seen in lower-income countries.
The data shared by the WHO suggests that India, China and Nigeria lead the world when it comes to the highest number of preterm births, while Malawi has the highest rate of preterm births per 100 live births.
Symptoms Of Preterm Birth
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Most preterm birth cases are as surprising for the mum as it sounds. Your body will immediately start showing symptoms that you need medical attention.
Here are some of the symptoms of preterm labour that you should watch out for:
- Change in your vaginal discharge (watery, mucus or bloody) or more vaginal discharge than usual
- Belly cramps
- Pressure in pelvis or lower belly
- Constant low, dull backache
- Diarrhoea
- Regular or frequent contractions
- Your water breaks
Certain factors do increase your chances for preterm delivery. This includes:
- Pregnancy with multiple births
- Problems with your uterus or cervix
- Family history of preterm delivery
- Premature delivery in the past
- Smaller gap between two pregnancies
How To Prevent Preterm Delivery
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While there is no certain way to determine if a mum will have preterm delivery or not, women can take precautionary measures to mitigate different risks around pregnancies to ensure smooth and healthy childbirth and postpartum.
And all it requires are some lifestyle changes before and during pregnancy to make it a hassle-free process. Here’s a look at what lifestyle changes should mums do before trying to have a baby:
- Maintain a healthy weight – Lose or increase your weight before trying to conceive. Speak to a nutritionist to adopt a diet that works for you.
- Avoid smoking, drinking or drugs – Substance abuse is as is bad for health, and more so during pregnancy. Lay off these when trying for a baby and particularly during pregnancy.
- Reduce stress – We understand it’s not as easy as it sounds but stress will not only affect your body but your baby’s health as well. It’s time to organise that work-life balance.
- Maintain sufficient gap between pregnancies – Medical professionals suggest maintaining an 18-month gap between pregnancies so that your body has recovered well enough to carry another child without complications. If you are above the age of 35, speak to your gynaecologist about how long should you wait between pregnancies.
- Check your overall health – This includes keeping a tab on your blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, infections
Researchers hope the new study will help medical professionals to identify women at risk for preterm birth sooner than the current methods allow.
This will make prevention and treatment more effective going forward, while also putting more emphasis on vaginal health problems in women.
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