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What are the risk factors for premature birth?

If a mother in Ohio gives birth prior to week 37 of her pregnancy, her baby is premature. Premature birth puts a baby at risk of long-term complications, like cerebral palsy and retinopathy of prematurity. The earlier the birth occurs, the greater the chance of complications. Therefore, you may wonder what causes premature birth and what, if anything, you can do to prevent it.

According to the Mayo Clinic, anyone has the potential to give birth prematurely, and the cause is not always known. There are a number of factors that place you at a greater risk, but the presence of these risk factors is not a guarantee that preterm birth will occur. Furthermore, even women who have no discernible risk factors may give birth prematurely.

Some risk factors relate to lifestyle, whether directly or indirectly. Drug use, smoking or body weight that is more or less than ideal all increase your chances of prematurity. Other risk factors are due to circumstances beyond your control, such as chronic medical conditions, infections or abnormalities of the reproductive tract. If your pregnancy involves multiples, you are at greater risk for preterm birth. Your gynecologic history of therapeutic abortion, miscarriage or previous premature birth can also play a part.

In some circumstances, a doctor can identify a condition that could put you at risk for premature birth early on and recommend steps to prevent it. If your doctor detects abnormalities of the birth canal, you may undergo a cervical cerclage, which is a surgical procedure that involves using strong sutures to stitch the cervix closed. The sutures remain in place until it is time to give birth, at which point your doctor removes them. If you have a history of past preterm birth, your doctor may give you hormone supplements of progesterone to reduce your risk.

The information in this article is not intended as legal advice but provided for educational purposes only.

About the Author: 

As a first-generation Italian in the United States, Frank is no stranger to tough times. His father’s family moved to Cleveland from Italy on May 22, 1958, with a few articles of clothing, some personal items and very little money. His family shared a home with three other related families but happily worked long hours doing jobs that involved physical labor, just to put food on the table. There was the promise of hope and opportunity, which was missing before his family moved here.

What are the risk factors for premature birth?

If a mother in Ohio gives birth prior to week 37 of her pregnancy, her baby is premature.

Premature birth puts a baby at risk of long-term complications, like cerebral palsy and retinopathy of prematurity.

The earlier the birth occurs, the greater the chance of complications.

Therefore, you may wonder what causes premature birth and what, if anything, you can do to prevent it.

According to the Mayo Clinic, anyone has the potential to give birth prematurely, and the cause is not always known.

There are a number of factors that place you at a greater risk, but the presence of these risk factors is not a guarantee that preterm birth will occur.

Furthermore, even women who have no discernible risk factors may give birth prematurely.

Some risk factors relate to lifestyle, whether directly or indirectly.

Drug use, smoking or body weight that is more or less than ideal all increase your chances of prematurity.

Other risk factors are due to circumstances beyond your control, such as chronic medical conditions, infections or abnormalities of the reproductive tract.

If your pregnancy involves multiples, you are at greater risk for preterm birth.

Your gynecologic history of therapeutic abortion, miscarriage or previous premature birth can also play a part.

In some circumstances, a doctor can identify a condition that could put you at risk for premature birth early on and recommend steps to prevent it.

If your doctor detects abnormalities of the birth canal, you may undergo a cervical cerclage, which is a surgical procedure that involves using strong sutures to stitch the cervix closed.

The sutures remain in place until it is time to give birth, at which point your doctor removes them.

If you have a history of past preterm birth, your doctor may give you hormone supplements of progesterone to reduce your risk.

The information in this article is not intended as legal advice but provided for educational purposes only.

About the Author: 

As a first-generation Italian in the United States, Frank is no stranger to tough times.

His father’s family moved to Cleveland from Italy on May 22, 1958, with a few articles of clothing, some personal items and very little money.

His family shared a home with three other related families but happily worked long hours doing jobs that involved physical labor, just to put food on the table.

There was the promise of hope and opportunity, which was missing before his family moved here.

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Frank Piscitelli

Member of the Ohio State Bar Association since 1993. With 30+ years of legal experience, Attorney Frank Piscitelli has secured over $55 million in compensation for Ohio injury victims, car accident victims, and surviving family members of Ohio wrongful death victims.


This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy and clarity by the team of writers and attorneys at Piscitelli Law Firm and is as accurate as possible. This content should not be taken as legal advice from an attorney. If you would like to learn more about our owner and experienced Ohio personal injury lawyer, Frank Piscitelli, you can do so here.

Piscitelli Law Firm does everything possible to make sure the information in this article is up to date and accurate. If you need specific legal advice about your case, contact us. This article should not be taken as advice from an attorney.

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