Thoughts on pre-term birth from a preemie who made it (Part II)

Yesterday I posted part I of "Thoughts on pre-term birth from a preemie who made it". Today I will conclude with part II including sharing what it's look to be born pre-term AND have hydrocephalus. Today we'll start by taking a look at the medical conditions that might increase the risk that a woman will experience pre-term labor. These include:

1. Diabetes
2. High blood pressure & preeclampsia*
3. Infections (urinary, vaginal, sexually transmitted; possibly others)
4. Blood clotting disorders (thrombophilia)
5. Vaginal bleeding
6. Certain birth defects in the baby
7. Being pregnant with a single fetus after in vitro fertilization (IVF)
8. Being underweight prior to pregnancy
9. Obesity
10. Short-time period between pregnancies**


* Preeclampsia is a medical condition where hypertension arises in pregnancy in association with significant amounts of protein in the urine.


** Short-time period between pregnancies is less than six (6) to nine (9) months between birth and the beginning of the next pregnancy.

Can treatment prevent pre-term births?

Over the years, physicians have tried various strategies to help prevent pre-term delivery -- bed rest, intensive pre-natal care for high-risk women, and drug therapy to stop uterine contractions. As a rule, none of these are routinely effective, although the may help in some cases.

However - in 2003 - two encouraging studies concluded that treatment with the hormone progesterone*** reduced the incidence of pre-term birth in women who had suffered a previous pre-term birth. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends that progesterone  (sometimes called 17P)  be given when a woman is currently pregnant with one baby, and she previously delivered a baby before 37 completed weeks of pregnancy; either labor began on its own, without the use of drugs or other methods, or the membranes surrounding the baby in the woman's uterus ruptured too soon.

Today women who develop pre-term labor prior to 34-weeks are often treated with one of several drugs called tocolytics. These drugs can often delay delivery for about forty-eight (48) hours -- allowing doctors extra time to treat the expectant mom with corticosteroid drugs. The corticosteroids speed up the maturation of fetal lungs - and other organs - reducing the risk of death and serious complications associated with prematurity including respiratory distress syndrome and bleeding in the brain.


*** Progesterone (also known as P4) is a C-21 steroid hormone involved in the female menstrual cycle, pregnancy (supports gestation), and embryogenesis. 

Conclusion

I hope that you've found my blog educational and easy to read. Even though I am a surviving preemie, I learned quite a bit myself.

Me around age two.

I promised to share a little about my experience. I was born four (4) weeks pre-term and tipped the scales at exactly four pounds. As if that wasn't bad enough - and as I mentioned above - I had the early signs of hydrocephalus which continued to develop during the six (6) weeks before my mom and dad could take me home. Combine these two medical conditions and you have a REALLY good picture of what a bad shape I was in. Despite this (and because of LOTS of love and prayers I received) I was one of the lucky preemies who survived and thrived! Now I'm 47 years-old and semi-retired (due to osteo-arthritis) helping to spread the word that there is hope!

Until next time . . .




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