A premature birth is a birth that happens before the 37th week of pregnancy. The percentage of babies born before 37 weeks in the UK is 7 percent and 9.8 percent in the US.

You may need to give birth to your baby early due to medical reasons or if you have a spontaneous preterm labour. Fortunately, with the recent advances in care for premature babies, even a baby born as early as 22 weeks may survive.

Let’s take a look at why you may need to deliver your baby early.

Why may I be advised to have an early delivery?

If your or your baby’s health is in danger, you may be advised to have an early delivery. For example:

If you have a heart condition or pre-eclampsia, which can endanger you and your baby,

If the placenta is not functioning well, meaning that the baby is not getting enough oxygen and is very small (intrauterine growth restriction),

Usually, babies delivered before 32 weeks are born by caesarean. An induction may occasionally be possible, but this is more likely to be an option after 34 weeks.

What if I have spontaneous preterm labour?

The cause of spontaneous preterm labour is not fully known. However, it’s more likely if there is an abnormality of the uterine wall, such as fibroids or issues with the cervix (particularly following a LLETZ treatment for abnormal cells). It is also possible that inflammation or infection within the amniotic membranes can set off contractions.

Once you’ve gone into preterm labour, it can’t be stopped, but it can be slowed down. Here’s what else can be done to support you and your baby:

Steroids can be used to support your baby’s lungs and help their breathing. For maximum benefit, they must be given 24–48 hours before birth.

To reduce the frequency of contractions, you may also be given tablets or an injection. This can slow the birth process down by a few days, which will then give the steroids a better chance to work.

If needed, you can be transferred to the special care unit of a hospital, which will have special support for premature babies. This will depend on how many weeks old you are.

As premature babies are more susceptible to bacterial infection, you may be advised to inject antibiotics.

Once your baby is born, they will need to spend some time in the special care baby unit. It can be alarming to see your tiny baby hooked up to various tubes and monitors, but you can rest assured that these are there to help your baby feed, breathe, and develop properly.

What is a premature birth?

Unii’s Giving Birth Journey covers preterm babies, including planned early delivery.