What causes us to have premature babies?

Minga - posted on 05/23/2013

I have the question that why did I have mine 2 kids premature...

my first was born at 37 which is normal...

my second was born at 27 weeks 1 pound 15oz ...

they say it was because the baby was loose and that's why I had him early ...

my third child I had him at 28 weeks like if he was a normal baby ...

like if I was having him natural ... the doctor did not know why I had no problems or nothing ... the problem that my first had was not the same as my second child it was different ...

but its all the sane I never had pain ... with all 3 kids ... I would reach to 6 cm ... when I really had pain was when I was 8 or 9 cm ... and that's the other thing I don't know why ...

Debbie - posted on 10/07/2011

My daughter was born 25 weeks 5 days weighing 1lb 14oz and I found out after she was born that I have 2 uterus and one cervix, so I can only get pregnant on the one side, and she ran out of room so went into labour early.

Melanie - posted on 12/03/2009

i had my first son at 24w4d, by emergency c-section due to severe pre-ecclampsia and HELLP, he weighed a tiny 1lbs 2oz and measured 12 inches, my husband was born through a pre-ecclampsia birth 36 years ago, weighing a little less than 3lbs at 8 1/2 months gestation, apparently they said it was genetic... who knew...

our second son was born less than a year later at full term with no complications whatsoever and weighed 8lbs 14oz....

it's a mystery to me why our first pregnancy went so wrong, and our second one went perfectly....

Melissa - posted on 12/03/2009

This is the question thousands of woman ask themselves each year! I am in no way an ambassador for the cause but I have done alot of research into the March of Dimes. This organization spends its time and money improving the health of babies in turn preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality. Its has been a great cause in my family and definitely one that I am sure affects us all.

I had two premature babies..one at 25 weeks and one at 34 weeks. There are factors in some woman that make them predisposed to have premature babies like those mentioned by some moms above...but nothing in certain. I can hear the frustration that you have. Medical advances have come along way we can only hope one of these days, we will know the answer!

Stephanie - posted on 12/02/2009

I have one premie she is now 7yrs old, she was born at 26wks and weights 1lbs 13oz. My other daughter is now 41/2 and was almost a premie, i had to be hospitalized for 5wks to hold the pregnancy, she was born at 36wks and weight 5lbs2oz. When I was pregnant with my second daughter during a routine sono they noticed that i had a short cervics.So more than likely each time i get pregnant it will happen again

Emily - posted on 12/01/2009

did they run blood tests?

Elaine - posted on 12/01/2009

In my case it was because I developed severe pre-eclamsia. I normally have my c/sections under general anaesthetic but as my throat was begining to swell they were amdemant they were going to give me a spinal block. Me and my daughter are both lucky to be here and I cherish everyday that I have now.

Desiree - posted on 11/30/2009

My twin boys were 35 weeks. I had preclamsia and my blood pressure was 176/114. Then the weight of the babies. My "bottom" had started turning inside out by the 32nd week. I just couldn't hold them anymore. My mom had my brother 5 weeks early also because of toxemia.

Kammie - posted on 11/28/2009

dont belive that just because you may have smoked during your pregnacy or were around it that it caused you to go premiee i smoke my entire pregnacy and i only went two weeks and six days early and i aint the stress either my babys father stressed me out the day i was in labor and the doctor said it was all because he was a movier my son moved constant and it wasnt cuz i smoked or because i was stressed out sometimes the baby just moves and they both could have moved to much as a fetus and you just didnt feel them doing it and they could have kinked up theirs

Kammie - posted on 11/28/2009

well with my son it was because he kinked up his embilicol cord and wasnt getting enough nutriances even though i was still eating and everything

Tara - posted on 11/27/2009

I had my son at 29w6/7 days and it was because i kept having contractions and with them the babys heart would decel. this was ongoing for days they stopped the regular contractions but i would have one here and there not too bad and still heart decel. so i had an emergency c section and come to find out my sons cord was so long it wrapped around his neck 6 times and my uterus was pinching his head where he couldnt turn downwards..they did not see any of this in the ultrasound a day earlier

Monika - posted on 11/26/2009

For me, it was a sudden onset of preeclampsia, and things went downhill fast. They had to deliver DD within 2 days of my being admitted to the hospital, or we both could have died. Things were completely normal (blood pressure great, no protein spillage, etc.) at my OB appointment the week before. It's crazy how things can change so quickly.

Andrea - posted on 11/23/2009

mine was do to low fluid around her.. 5% is the lowest they would let it get and i got to 3% fluid so there was nothing around her to protect her.. that and due to the Gastroschisis is y she was born at 36 weeks.. my son was 37 weeker and 6 lbs he is now 2 years and 34lbs and 34 1/2in tall and my daughter 36 weeker was 3lbs 8oz, 16in lond and is now 17lbs and 25 3/4in long..

Iysha - posted on 11/22/2009

I had my daughter early because my placenta was aging faster than she was. This usually happens in older women, smokers and drug abusers. I don't fit the criteria, but it happened.

Jennifer - posted on 11/22/2009

My son was born at 28 weeks. I was in preterm labor for 5 days and was on bed rest to try to stop the contractions. I was diagnosed with pulmonary embolism which is the blood clots in the lungs , also i had pneumonia didn't even know that i had it until after i gave birth They didn't know until i gave birth that this was the cause of my preterm labor. My son save my life because if he was not born early they would have never known that i have a blood clot in my lungs

Charlotte - posted on 11/22/2009

Jacob was born at 35wks cos on the day of the scan its showed he was smaller scan said he was 4lb something, anyways they did a emerncy c-section that night and discoverd that the placenta was a third dead, i had placenta infractions i think they were tears in the placenta oh and he was 5lbs 1oz at birth i had GD with both pregnancys. With Isabella i had her at 31wks due to placenta aburption. and she was 3lbs 1oz

Julia - posted on 11/22/2009

my first son was born on his due date, my second was a month early, i dont know why mine was born early either. my husband and his brother were both early, one a month one 6 weeks. my mother in law said that her doctor said it was because she wasnt able to carry the wait. even though beth boys were early they were both over 8 lbs. her dr prodicted if they would have been full turm they would have been over 11 lbs and her body just couldnt do it.

Melissa - posted on 11/22/2009

My preterm labor has always started around my 24-26th week of pregnancy. But I am on pregnancy # 9. I have had 2 daughters and am pregnant with my 3rd. All the rest were miscarriages and 2 2nd trimester births. I didnt have any infections, no incompetency with the cervix, or any other reasons for preterm labor. I do know that after we did a very extensive family history, my family had preemies and many miscarriages. So I believe mine is hereditary. For some reason, it all seems way too common now for preterm labor. Self imposed bed rest is keeping me pregnant along with 17 P weekly shots and Procardia every 6 hours. Gravity is my pregnancy's enemy. I stay closly watched by my Mat. Fetal Med Specialist and I am still pregnant. Hope this helps someone. :)

Theresa - posted on 11/20/2009

My son came at 33w2d because I developed pre-eclampsia suddenly.

Shiloh - posted on 11/20/2009

my first was born at 28 wks due to the fact that i had a large ovarian cyst. my body could not handle have both baby and cyst in my body so it tried to get rid of the baby. i had surgery to remove the cyst while i was still pregnant and the doctor never told me that the surgery could bring on labour. never heard of this happening anyone as the ovaries tend to shut down while you are pregnant (so i got told by the doctor).but less than 24hrs later i went into labour that they couldnt stop. the docs made me go through natural labour with 12 stiches in my belly and i was so high on pain killers that i dont remember the birth ( but my mum told me that i was worried that my belly was going to explode out of the stiches). i have since had 3 more kids and each was early too 36wks 35 wks and 31wks with no problems with their prengancy

Brittani - posted on 08/12/2009

And sometimes nothing does! If you're completely healthy there is never anything wrong with your placenta or cervix, and you are healthy non smoking & etc. Then it's "luck" it happens to you and twice. Sometimes there are no reasons.

Jennifer - posted on 08/11/2009

The first time they suspected slight placenta abrupta but weren't sure which came first the contractions or the placenta abrupta, both can cause the other. Round two, my new OB and the specialist told me it was a bit a fluke but would watch me closely this time. After delivering my second child there was a more significant tear of my placenta. In theory placenta abrupta should not have happened again as I was not at risk based on my health and lifestyle. Guess science doesn’t always know.

Iysha - posted on 08/10/2009

I think my issue was that my placenta was aging faster than it should have been. My boyfriend smokes... not in the house, but the fumes are still there on his clothes and that is considered exposure. Aging placentas have been caused by constant exposure to cigarette smoke. I also had a lot of physical and emotional stress. I am a surgical assistant so I was on my feet in surgeries that sometimes took an hour to complete. I don't think that anyone really knows exactly what makes some babies come early.

Sarah - posted on 08/09/2009

Quoting Nina:

What causes us to have premature babies?

I've had both my daughters prematurely. One at 24 weeks and the other at 27 weeks. Each time my daughters came out under 2 lbs. The doctors aren't sure what causes me to have them early.

I don't think that the Doctors will ever really know the reason for us having premature babies. I had my 1st at 34 weeks. He was a spontaneous labour and then my other son my waters broke at 31weeks and i was enduced at 34 weeks. They were both fine, but the Doctors can't pin point as to why this happend as i am a healthy person. The other thing is that people who have never had a premature baby will never understand how hard it is to see our little ones in humidity cribs etc. It's soooo....hard when you can't just pick up ur baby and hold them close.

Susan - posted on 08/08/2009

I have incompetent cervix= where the cervix opens under the pressure of the weight of the baby. I also had bacterial vaginosis, which is now known to trigger premature labor, and group B strep which is suspected to be a risk factor. We didn't identify the cervical problem until my second premature labor - and I didn't risk a third! If you know you have this condition, the doctors can sew the cervix shut around 14 weeks - it's called a cerclage. BTW, Time Magazine had an excellent article about prematurity two weeks ago.

Rebekah - posted on 08/08/2009

I had an infection - probably listeria - and had my boys at 25 weeks. It was safer for them to come early than stay in the womb because of the infection.

Denise - posted on 08/06/2009

Hi,i have 3 children and my first was 5 weeks early,second 2 days early but my third was 7 weeks early,my first and third baby was because i had placenta abruption where the placenta starts coming away.

ANNETTE - posted on 08/06/2009

I have a shortened cervix, so when the baby gets too heavy, the cervix wont be able to hold it in anymore

Crystal - posted on 08/05/2009

I have a uterine abnormality...we didn't know it until my first-born son was born by emergency c-section @ between 28-29 weeks gestation. The doctor that delivered him said it was the most severe case he'd seen so now we also assume that's why I also misscarried three babies before having my preemie. There are tests that can be done to check to see if you have an abnormal uterus.

Amanda - posted on 08/04/2009

I had severe pre-eclampsia and a high stress level. They had to take my daughter 10 weeks early because my liver and kidneys were beginning to fail. They basically had 30 min. to get her or lose us both. The doctors did everything they could for us and tried to help me carry her as long as I could. She is doing wonderful now and I am truly blessed.

Kristin - posted on 08/04/2009

My little guy was 34 weeks and they have no idea why he was early! I had no health issues. My mother had all 7 of her kids preemie so it may just be genetic. I figure I just do my best to stay healthy with the next one and pay attention to the signs of premature labor so it can try and be prevented.

Tanya - posted on 08/04/2009

i had 2 prems ,first at 35 weeks,5lb 9oz who is now 21,second at 24 wks 1lb 6oz,didnt survive ,next daughter wow 7lb 12oz,cos i was so looked after,and then my little boy who is 2yrs 5mths 7 wks early 4lb 5ozs.And yes related to smoking,i smoke but also a lot of people dont know this i kept getting infections sounds daft but i cannot remember what it was called.but a simple swab stick test inside you know where!can tell u and then they give u antibiotics.but you need to ask for this test .sorry but if anyone else knows bout this test let us know.and sorry again i do talk to much .lol

Jennifer - posted on 08/03/2009

Do you smoke? Or are you around smokers? Sometime ages and/or size matters aswell! And manly stress, too!

Sheila - posted on 08/03/2009

* Preeclampsia
* Antepartum hemorrhage
* Uterine abnormalities
* Hydramnios - excess of amniotic fluid around the fetus

There are also several other health conditions that can cause premature birth. It is not always possible to pinpoint a cause because it can be multiple things and at that it can be different for each and every woman.

Cheryl - posted on 08/03/2009

i dont know but my doctor said i had a high stress level;/!
my wee girl came 10 weeks early

Emma - posted on 08/03/2009

I had my first daughter at 35 weeks gestation b/c I has severe pre-eclampsia and HELLP syndrome and it was a matter of life or death. That's why I had my preemie. With this one, I've been told I'm probably going to have another preeemie b/c I'm diabetic and they like us to have our little ones sooner.