For most, pregnancy is a time that is filled with both joy and fear. Parents worry about bringing a healthy baby into the world and then making sure that child grows up healthy and happy. Pregnant women especially worry about what factors can accelerate the due date of a baby, and how they can avoid that.
A preterm birth is one that does not make it to thirty seven weeks. Some factors that affect women and cause early births are unavoidable and have to do with genetics or outside forces. But there are many factors that women do have some control over and can work to avoid in order to make sure their pregnancy goes to full term.
Those who are really young or much older are at a higher risk of an early birth. The minds and bodies of the young too young to take on the burdens of a pregnancy. Women who have reached their late thirties or are older than that also have higher stress pregnancies. Risk of complications and birth defects, like preterm birth, are more likely to occur in older women.
Multiple births are becoming much more frequent with the advancement of in-vitro fertilization. Expecting multiple babies really ups the chances of going into labor before the due date. This is due to the fact that there is usually not enough room for the fetuses to continue growing. It is more common for a multiple birth to be early than on time.
Stress is often a factor in early births and can adversely affect pregnant women. Stress be it big or small causes too much shock to the woman and her fetus. Women should avoid stress and those things that cause it throughout their pregnancy.
Being healthy is vital to a pregnant woman and her unborn child. Unhealthy women cannot expect their baby to be healthy. Women who are underweight and those who don't gain weight as they should while pregnant are at risk for an early birth. Undernourishment of the woman can lead to deadly complications. Women who are underweight should find a way to gain some weight for their baby and a healthy pregnancy.
Overweight women are also at risk of problems during their pregnancy. A poor diet may lead to an unhealthy fetus. Overweight women should seek medical advice to make sure they are healthy enough to continue their pregnancy.
Women who have STDs or infections are at greater risk for preterm labor. Because these infections are in the area of the womb and the fetus they can cause problems for the pregnancy and often lead to premature labor. Women who have these infections or are prone to them should be very cautious when getting pregnant and should make sure they speak to their doctor about what to do while they are pregnant.
Some women try very hard to avoid factors that might lead to an early delivery, while other women continue to do things they know are bad for their pregnancy. Smoking, drinking, and drugs are all shown to cause birth defects and premature labor. Women should quit these activities while they are pregnant if they want to make sure they have a healthy child.
Pregnancy is a delicate time in a woman's life. All sorts of factors can lead to complications for her and her baby. Women should acknowledge what factors can accelerate the due date of a baby and make sure they are not part of her life if at all possible. Making sure the mother is healthy can only make her chances of delivering a healthy baby better.
Using a conception date calculator to determine the starting point of your pregnancy and a due date calculator by conception date will tell you the probable date of your baby's arrival. Length of pregnancy usually doesn't vary by more than a few days.