Pre-Term Births
Premature births, or pre-term births, refer to births of babies of less than 37-weeks gestational age.
Before this time, their developing organs are not mature enough for normal postnatal survival, which increases their risk for short and long term complications, including disabilities and impediments in growth or mental development.
There are many factors that appear to be associated with the development of premature births, and while the exact cause for them is still unknown mothers should always realize the importance of pre-natal care.
But while the cause and frequency of premature births is unchanged, advances have been made in the care of premature infants.
While 50% of premature births causes are never determined, some possible indicated causes include:
- Age of the Mother (with those who are at the upper or lower end of the reproductive years having the most complications)
- Nutrition
- Interval between pregnancies
Possible links have also been made to work conditions, saying that stressful conditions, hard labor, and long hours are probably linked to
premature birth.
Multiple births (such as twins, triplets, etc) are also a cause, and infection plays a major role and may be accountable for up to 25 to 40% of premature births.
The shorter the term of pregnancy, the greater the risks of mortality or complications due to the prematurity. Babies who go through
premature labor and delivery have an increased risk of death in the first year of life, especially in the first month of life.
The earlier the infant is born also has an effect on the likelihood of survival. The limit of viability, or the age at which the infant has at least a 50% chance of survival, has been improved to approximately 24-weeks with recent NICU care improvements.
There are ways to help prevent premature births and cut down on
pre-term delivery risk. These include good heath care, proper nutrition, stress avoidance, medical care, and avoiding infections.
Yes, you can do it. We're here to help.
Your doctor may prescribe weekly injections of 17 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone (17P) as part of your baby's pre-natal care. Research has reported that this medication may lower the risk that you'll go into labor before your baby is ready to be born. (You can learn more about this research from the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology's booklet, Preventing Preterm Birth.) (More information about 17P in the news.)
We know you're excited about your new baby and that you want to do what's best for your little one. We also know that you may be a little nervous about getting or even giving yourself an injection. That's normal and OK. But your doctor feels this medicine is best for you and your baby — and knows you can do it. So do we!
How should 17P be given?
- Your doctor may ask you to bring your medicine to the office so that a healthcare professional can administer the injections. Your doctor may arrange for the injections to be given by a visiting nurse or a family member. Your doctor also may ask you to give the injections to yourself.
- This medication is given as an intramuscular (IM) injection according to doctor's directions.
- According to published protocols, a dose of 250mg is usually injected once each week for a certain number of weeks. Your doctor will give you specific instructions about how much and how often to administer the medicine.
Made just for you.
This medicine will be custom-compounded for you by Wedgewood Pharmacy, to fill the prescription your doctor wrote for you. It will be made to meet your individual needs. For this reason, there is no standardized information or literature available to go with your prescription. If you have not done so, please discuss this medicine with your doctor to ensure that you understand (1) why he or she has prescribed a compounded medicine, (2) how to properly take this medicine, and (3) the interactions, if any, this medicine may have with any other medicines you are taking.