Pregnancy health centre

Having a premature baby

What causes premature labour?

The UK has the highest rates of premature birth and low birthweight babies in Europe. Every day, more than 100 babies are born too small (under 5½lbs) or too early (before 37 completed weeks of pregnancy), and two per cent of these arrive six weeks or more before their due date, making them very premature.

The causes of premature labour and a below-average birthweight are still not fully understood. In the majority of cases there is no obvious cause or known risk factors.

Factors that can lead to an early delivery include lifestyle influences (such as smoking, taking drugs and poor nutrition), multiple pregnancies, a faulty placenta, pregnancy diabetes, pre-eclampsia and vaginal infection.

Babies born closer to their due date and with a good birthweight have a greater chance of survival than very small, very premature babies. Thanks to modern technology, most babies born after 32 weeks have a very good chance of living and going on to develop normally.

What if I go into premature labour?

If you're worried that you might be in premature labour (see The final countdown to labour), or if your waters break before 37 weeks, contact your local maternity unit immediately for advice - even if you have no labour pains.

Expect to be admitted to hospital, where doctors may try to delay labour with drugs. (In some pregnancies, a delay of one or two days can make a huge difference to a baby's chances of survival.)

What will happen to my baby?

If your baby is born early she'll need special care in an incubator, with specially trained staff on hand round the clock.

Some babies spend months in the special care (or 'neonatal') baby unit; others may be in for a day or two. The first few days are often particularly stressful and parents experience all sorts of emotions, including worry, concern about their ability to cope and negative feelings.

Communicating with your baby via touch and talk is very important and will help you to bond. The nursing staff will give you lots of advice.

Further information

• BLISS, the charity for premature and sick babies, provides advice, support and practical information, such as where you can get tiny nappies and clothes. Parent Support Helpline: 0500 618140 (UK only).
• Tommy's baby charity funds research into the causes of miscarriage, stillbirth and premature birth, as well as providing information to help more parents through a healthy pregnancy and birth. Visit www.tommys.org (UK only) to download the leaflet premature Labour: Information for Parents; or call the Pregnancy Information Line on 0870 777 30 60.