Premature birth is the birth of the fetus before 3 weeks of due date.

Symptoms

• Contractions which occur more than six times each hour.
• Low back pain.
• Pelvic pain.
• Diarrhea.
• Vaginal spotting or bleeding.
• Watery discharge from vagina.

Causes

• Previous preterm birth
• Multiple pregnancy.
• Smoking.
• Alcohol consumption.
• Infections of genital tract.
• High blood pressure.
• Diabetes.
• Overweight during pregnancy.
• Underweight during pregnancy.
• Multiple abortions.

Complications

• Maternal complications:
• Breathing difficulty.
• Stoppage of bleeding or apnea.
• Bleeding in the brain.
• Fluid accumulation in the brain.
• Cerebral palsy.
• Vision problems.
• Intestinal problems.
• Developmental delays.
• Learning disabilities.
• Jaundice.
• Anemia.
• Low blood pressure.

Treatment

• If there is no contractions but cervical opening is present cervical cerclage is applied. In this the cervix is sutured.
• If the pregnancy is 23 to 34 weeks steroids are recommended.
• Nitroglycerine available as patches prevent preterm labor.