Premature labour is a medical condition that refers to the delivery of a baby before the 37th week of pregnancy. The spelling of "Premature Labour" is phonetically transcribed as /pɹiːmətjʊə lɛɪbə/. The first syllable "pre" is pronounced as /pɹiː/, followed by the vowel sound /mə/ in the second syllable. The third and fourth syllables "ture la" are pronounced with the schwa sound /ə/. The final syllable "bour" is pronounced as /lɛɪbə/, with the emphasis on the second to the last syllable.
Premature labour refers to the onset of labour before the usual gestational age of 37 weeks. It is also commonly known as preterm labour or premature birth. Labour occurs when the uterus contracts and the cervix begins to open and thin in preparation for the delivery of the baby. When this process occurs before the completion of 37 weeks of pregnancy, it is considered premature.
Premature labour can have various causes, including certain medical conditions such as preeclampsia, underlying health conditions in the mother, hormonal imbalances, infections, multiple pregnancies (e.g., twins or triplets), or certain lifestyle factors like smoking, substance abuse, or poor nutritional habits. It can also occur without any known cause.
The potential risks associated with premature labour are numerous. Babies born prematurely may face various immediate and long-term health complications due to their underdeveloped organs and systems. These complications may include breathing difficulties, feeding difficulties, jaundice, increased susceptibility to infections, neurological problems, and developmental delays.
Medical professionals aim to prevent or delay premature labour whenever possible. Treatments may involve bed rest, medications to relax the uterus (such as tocolytics), hormone administration (such as corticosteroids) to accelerate fetal lung development, or antibiotics if an infection is present. In some cases, childbirth may not be able to be delayed, and immediate medical intervention may be required to support the premature baby's health and survival.
Overall, premature labour is a condition that requires careful monitoring and medical intervention to achieve the best possible outcomes for both the mother and the baby.
The word "premature" comes from the Latin word "praematurus", which is a combination of "prae" meaning "before" and "maturus" meaning "ripe" or "timely". In this context, "premature" refers to something occurring before it is fully developed or expected.
The word "labour" comes from the Old French word "labour", which is derived from the Latin word "labor", meaning "toil" or "work". In medical terminology, "labour" refers to the process of childbirth or giving birth.
Therefore, the term "premature labour" denotes the occurrence of childbirth or giving birth before it is expected or before the typical gestation period.