PREMATURE DELIVERY Meaning and
Definition
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Premature delivery, also known as preterm birth, refers to the delivery of a baby before the completion of 37 weeks of gestation. A normal pregnancy usually lasts about 40 weeks. Therefore, premature delivery occurs when a baby is born too early, usually resulting in an underdeveloped and medically fragile infant.
There are two main types of preterm birth: spontaneous and medically indicated. Spontaneous preterm birth is the most common and occurs when the body undergoes natural labor or the amniotic sac ruptures prematurely. Medically indicated preterm birth is planned when there are serious medical conditions that could compromise the health of the baby or the mother.
Premature delivery can have various causes, including multiple pregnancies (such as twins or triplets), infections, chronic health conditions of the mother (such as high blood pressure or diabetes), or certain lifestyle factors (such as smoking or drug use). Additionally, some pregnancies may need to be induced prematurely due to severe fetal growth restriction or maternal complications.
Babies born prematurely face significant challenges due to their underdeveloped organs and systems, resulting in higher rates of health complications such as respiratory distress syndrome, infections, feeding difficulties, and neurological issues. These babies often require specialized care, including close monitoring, assistance with breathing, feeding support, and sometimes extended hospital stays.
Medical advancements and specialized neonatal care units have greatly improved the outcomes for premature babies by increasing their chances of survival and minimizing long-term complications. However, it is crucial to identify and address the underlying causes of premature delivery to prevent its occurrence and provide appropriate interventions and management for the mother and newborn.
Common Misspellings for PREMATURE DELIVERY
- oremature delivery
- lremature delivery
- -remature delivery
- 0remature delivery
- peemature delivery
- pdemature delivery
- pfemature delivery
- ptemature delivery
- p5emature delivery
- p4emature delivery
- prwmature delivery
- prsmature delivery
- prdmature delivery
- prrmature delivery
- pr4mature delivery
- pr3mature delivery
- prenature delivery
- prekature delivery
- prejature delivery
- premzture delivery
Etymology of PREMATURE DELIVERY
The word "premature" originates from the Latin word "praematurus", which combines "prae" (meaning "before") and "maturus" (meaning "ripe" or "mature"). "Delivery" comes from the Old French word "delivrer", which means "to save, liberate" or "make free". Thus, the term "premature delivery" refers to the act of giving birth to a baby before it has reached the expected stage of maturity.
