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Understanding Prematurity
For a growing number of babies, birthdays come too soon. The rate of premature births in this country has increased 31 percent since 1981, and today about one in eight babies, or half a million each year, are born prematurely -- before 37 weeks of pregnancy.
Babies born too soon are more likely than full-term babies to experience newborn health problems, such as difficulty breathing, as well as lasting disabilities, such as mental retardation, cerebral palsy, or vision or hearing loss. Babies born before 32 weeks face the highest risk of serious complications, but even those born between 34 and 36 weeks (called late preterm births) are more likely than full-term babies to develop jaundice or have difficulty breathing, feeding, or regulating their body temperature.
What can you do to increase the likelihood that your baby gets a full nine months of healthy growth and development? Fortunately, quite a bit.
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I am pregnant with twins. At 30wks,i started bleeding. When I got to hospital, I found out that my placenta is tearing. I was given some medication and placed on a bed rest. I am currently 32wks and hoping to reach atleast 36wks.
1/28/2012 02:54:15 PM Report AbuseMy baby was born @29 weeks. I would be 32 weeks now had he not came early. He is currently in nicu but he is doing fine. All the nurses and docs are actually saying that he is doing very well to be born so early. They tried 3 different meds on me including magnesium sulfrate, that only prolonged my labor for 4 days before he was taken by c-section. My preterm was caused by my fibroid tumor.
5/2/2011 12:36:22 AM Report AbuseMy baby was born @29 weeks. I would be 32 weeks now had he not came early. He is cufrrently in nicu but he is doing fine. All the nurses and dic afre actually saying that he is doing tooo well to be born so early. They tried 3 different meds on me that only prolonged my labor for 4 days before he was taken by c-section. My preterm was caused by my fibroid tumor.
5/2/2011 12:34:49 AM Report AbuseI'am 29 weeks and JUST got out of the hospital for contracions they had me on a medicine iv drip called Mag. ( for short) and I had to be in there for 4 days so they could monitor my contracions.. I was also dialated at 2cms .. An they sent me home saying that I need rest. I just hope that my BOY stays in for at least another 6 weeks.. Just dont know HOW much I can do.
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12/28/2010 06:52:30 PM Report AbuseI'm 33 weeks and for the last week and a half I've had to go to the hospital 3 times for contractions. As of right now I'm 2cm dilated and 50% effaced. I'm on bed rest at home and was give 2 shots to help baby's lungs. I'm taking terbutaline to stop contractions. This is our first pregnancy ever and has been full of problems. We are trying to get to 36 weeks at the very least.
10/9/2010 05:49:49 PM Report AbuseAt 30 weeks I started contracting, My doctor put me on terbutaline 2 times a day and bed rest until Im 35 weeks. Currently I am 32 weeks. Bed rest really doesnt seem to be helping with the contracting. Is that normal?
5/4/2010 06:04:32 PM Report AbuseI'am 29 weeks and 4 days pregnant with my 4th baby an my doctor put me on as much bed rest as possible so i wont go into preterm labor again an that my thyroids are really high plus i got diabetes an asthma...
2/12/2010 11:54:17 AM Report AbuseGood luck mommas, trust me preterm labor and delivery isn't any fun. I went into labor during the 33rd week of my pregnancy due to the fact that I was having twins and lost one of the babies during the 29th week of pregnancy so my son was born to early was in respiratory distress and was in a NICU for a month we just got home a couple weeks ago and he is still on oxygen and an apnea monitor. It's not easy having a baby in the NICU so I hope none of you have to go through it
1/28/2010 02:32:22 PM Report AbuseI am currently 26 wks and 1 day pregnant. My water broke at 22 wks and I am still pregnant. My doctor is aimimg for 28 wks so my son has the best chance at survival. I have two other children that had to be induced in order to be born. I am puzzled as to why this has happened to me now. Any body else have similar story?
12/21/2009 10:06:07 AM Report AbuseI had a scare too, the nurse did recommend to drink lots of water and to used the bathroom frequently not to hold it.
11/10/2009 03:27:35 PM Report AbuseI had a scare yesterday at only 23 weeks I had to go to the hospital and was given a shot to stop my contractions. They said I was dehydrated and that can cause contractions and to drink lots of water all the time.
10/13/2009 08:40:28 AM Report Abuse