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Preventing Premature Birth

To help reduce your chances of delivering your baby prematurely, take the following steps:

Get the proper prenatal care throughout your entire pregnancy
Eat a healthy, balanced diet with plenty of vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients
Avoid smoking, alcohol, and drugs
Keep chronic diseases under control
Reduce your stress level
Reduce activities as required by your doctor, such as cutting back on work or exercising less strenuously
Follow your doctor's recommendations about having sex during pregnancy

RESOURCES:

The American College of Obstetricians and Gyneclogists
http://www.acog.org/

Kids Health
http://www.kidshealth.org/

CANADIAN RESOURCES:

Health Canada
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/index-eng.php/

The Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada
http://sogc.medical.org/

References:

Hall R. Prevention of premature birth: do pediatricians have a role? Pediatrics . 2000 May;105(5): 1137-1140. Available at: http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/105/5/1137. Accessed April 18, 2007.

Premature labor. American Pregnancy Association website. Available at: http://www.americanpregnancy.org/labornbirth/prematurelabor.html. Accessed April 18, 2007.

Sheridan P. Rice sociologist finds premature birth increases risk for asthma. Rice University website. Available at: http://www.media.rice.edu/media/NewsBot.asp?MODE=VIEW&ID=8305&SnID=651540035. Accessed April 18, 2007.

*¹10/29/2008 DynaMed's Systematic Literature Surveillance http://www.ebscohost.com/dynamed/what.php : Bakhireva LN, Schatz M, Jones KL, et al. Asthma control during pregnancy and the risk of preterm delivery or impaired fetal growth. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2008;101:137-143.

Last reviewed November 2008 by Kari Kassir, MD

Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.

Talk about it in the:
Premature Birth Support Group

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