Risk factors for Premature Birth

A risk factor is something that increases your chance of getting a disease or condition.

The following factors increase your chance of delivering prematurely:

• Having multiple births (twins, triplets, quadruplets, etc.)
• Having a chronic disease-For example, if you have poorly controlled asthma , this may increase your risk. *¹
• Having had a previous premature birth
• Poor prenatal care, or poor nutrition during pregnancy
• Substance abuse during pregnancy