YourBabyYourWay.com - Pregnancy & Delivery

Pregnancy & Delivery

Pregnancy has a life of its own, with you at the center of it. We’ve included a wealth of information to help you through pregnancy and delivery.

What you can do now to prevent preterm birth

Preterm birth is the leading cause of newborn death, and babies who survive often face the risk of lifetime health challenges, including learning disabilities, cerebral palsy and intellectual disabilities. Learn the signs of preterm labor and what you and your partner can do if you experience those symptoms. Sometimes it's not possible to delay premature labor and your baby must be delivered preterm. The earlier you are in your pregnancy when you deliver, the higher the likelihood for your baby to have more serious complications. Find out what to expect during and after a preterm delivery.

Prematurity: what we know

Each day more than 1,400 babies in the United States (1 in 8) will be born prematurely. Many will be too small and too sick to go home. Instead, they face weeks or even months in the newborn intensive care unit (NICU). These babies face an increased risk of serious medical complications and death; however, most, eventually, will go home.

But what does the future hold for these babies? Many survivors grow up healthy; others aren't so lucky. Even the best of care cannot always spare a premature baby from lasting disabilities such as cerebral palsy; mental retardation and learning problems; chronic lung disease; and vision and hearing problems. Half of all neurological disabilities in children are related to premature birth.

Although doctors have made tremendous advances in caring for babies born too small and too soon, we need to find out how to prevent preterm birth from happening in the first place. Despite decades of research, scientists have not yet developed effective ways to help prevent premature delivery. Read the full article >

Ask the Expert

Q: My partner is expecting for the first time and I'm trying to be prepared for any circumstance. How can I recognize the signs of preterm labor?

A: Preterm labor is labor that occurs before the 37th completed week of pregnancy. (Most pregnancies last 38-42 weeks; your partner's due date is 40 weeks after the first day of her last menstrual period.) Preterm labor can happen to any woman: In nearly half of all cases, we don't know why a woman delivers prematurely. About 12 percent of births (1 in 8) in the United States are preterm. Babies who are born preterm are at higher risk of needing hospitalization, dying, and having long-term health problems than babies born at the right time. Health problems include cerebral palsy, mental retardation, blindness and chronic lung problems.

Preterm labor may sometimes be slowed or stopped with a combination of medication and rest. More often, birth can be delayed just long enough to transport the woman to a hospital with a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). While the birth is being delayed, the woman receives antibiotics to prevent infection and steroids to help speed up her baby's lung development.

What Dad can do to help
Learn the signs of preterm labor listed below, and encourage your partner to learn them, too. Your partner should call her health care provider or go to the hospital right away if she thinks she is having preterm labor. The signs of preterm labor include: Read the full answer >

Ask the Expert is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Never delay or disregard seeking professional medical advice from your physician or other qualified health provider because of something you have read here.

Book Review:

The Pregnancy Bed Rest Book: A Survival Guide for Expectant Mothers and Their Families

by Amy E. Tracy

"Often the pregnancy complication and the need for bed rest arise suddenly and unexpectedly, causing the woman and her family to face myriad problems. . . .This book can be an invaluable resource under such circumstances." (From the Foreword by Richard H. Schwarz, M.D., Obstetrical Consultant to the March of Dimes)

Statistics indicate that up to 700,000 expectant women a year -- that's one in five mothers-to-be -- are prescribed bed rest as treatment during complicated pregnancies. Bed rest might sound like a relief at first -- but the combination of a possible high-risk birth and a lengthy period of staying off your feet can be stressful.

Amy E. Tracy shares her experiences -- and those of many others -- to help you and your family not only survive but thrive during your days in waiting. With information on everything from informing your employer and making arrangements with your health insurance to proper nutrition and calisthenics, this comprehensive guide also covers such topics as:

Understanding Your Doctor's Orders
Adjusting to Horizontal Living
Coping with Short-term and Extended Hospitalization
Limiting the Side Effects of Immobility
Making Bed Rest a Family Affair
Coming to Terms with Your Feelings
Getting Back on Your Feet
And More, Including Complete Resources

Buy from Amazon.com

More book reviews >

	Share your story
Women (and their partners, for that matter) encounter a whole new world during pregnancy. Why not share your experiences with other mothers? Join the community today to share your stories. Or select a blog from the list below to read other expectant parents’ stories.