Preventing Prematurity

Calendar November 28, 2011 | Posted by Kendall Regional

November is Prematurity Awareness Month, a time when the March of Dimes works especially hard to increase awareness about the causes and prevention of premature birth. We think this is a great opportunity to share more about this topic as well. On November 1, the annual Premature Birth Report Card is released, and on November 17, World Prematurity Day, organizations around the world ask people everywhere to help communicate the important message of prematurity prevention. The fact is, preterm birth is the leading cause of newborn death in the United States, where 1 in 8 babies are born prematurely. While research in regard to the causes of premature birth is ongoing, we do know:

• If you’ve had a preterm birth, which is defined as birth before the completion of 37 weeks of pregnancy, the risk of having another is significantly higher. Treatment with progesterone shots may help reduce that risk.

• Receiving healthcare prior to and during pregnancy is an important aspect of prevention. Your health and the health of your baby will be monitored closely, making it much more likely that a problem will be found early.

• The signs of preterm labor include contractions every 10 minutes or less, cramps, backache, change in vaginal discharge, and pressure in your pelvis pressure. If you experience any of these symptoms, you should consult your doctor.

• Research has linked smoking to premature birth. If you smoke, quit.

• Some studies suggest a relationship between gum disease and premature birth. Brush and floss daily and visit your dentist regularly.

• It’s wise to make healthy lifestyle choices. Eat a balanced diet, manage stress and get plenty of rest. In addition, talk with your doctor about how best to keep any conditions such as high blood pressure or diabetes in check.

Have questions about preterm labor or preventing premature birth? Call our free, 24-hour Consult-A-Nurse® service at 1-888-256-7719. For more information about having a healthy pregnancy, childbirth classes and maternity care at Kendall Regional Medical Center, visit us online.

Related Posts:
March of Dimes: On a Mission for Healthy Babies
When Is It Real Labor?

About Kendall Regional

American Heart and Stroke Association Kendall Regional Medical Center has been given the “Get With The Guidelines” – Stroke Silver Performance Achievement Award from The American Heart and Stroke Association. The Association recognize this hospital for achieving at least one year of 85% or higher adherence to all Get With The Guidelines program quality indicators to improve quality of patient care and outcomes. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Joint Commission Accreditation Kendall Regional Medical Center has been awarded the Gold Seal of Approval™ from the Joint Commission. The Joint Commission is a leader in the accreditation and certification of health care organizations. Its seal of approval indicates a hospital meets its high performance standards. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Primary Stroke Center Kendall Regional Medical Center is a primary stroke center certified by The Joint Commission. The Joint Commission is an independent, not-for-profit organization, which accredits and certifies more than 15,000 health care organizations and programs in the United States. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chest Pain Center Kendall Regional Medical Center has received recognition as an Accredited Chest Pain Center (CPC) with Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI) by the Society of Chest Pain Centers. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thomson Reuters 100 Top Hospitals Kendall Regional Medical Center is a six time winner of the Thomson Reuters 100 Top Hospitals® National Benchmark award. Selection is based on an annual study conducted by Thomson Reuters Healthcare (formerly Solucient), which identifies benchmarks for the highest hospital-wide performance in hospitals across the country. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- HealthGrades Kendall Regional Medical Center is a recipient of the HealthGrades Distinguished Hospital Award - Clinical Excellence for 2009.
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