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The rate of premature birth is increasing as the number of multiple births increases due to the recent increase in mothers aged 35 years or older and infertility procedures. According to the Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs, between 2011 and 2021, the number of births in Korea decreased by 45% from 471,000 to 261,000, but the proportion of premature babies increased 1.5 times from 6% to 9.2% during the same period.
Premature labor is delivery that occurs between 20 and 37 weeks of gestation. Mortality and morbidity may increase in neonates born before 37 weeks of age. Caution is needed as it can lead to various complications such as behavioral disorders, cerebral palsy, autism, and asthma.
On the 5th, Ahn Ki-hoon, a professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Korea University Anam Hospital, said, “It is important to predict early labor to prevent premature birth.”
The cervix serves to prevent the fetus from falling out during pregnancy. As childbirth approaches, the length of the cervix should shorten, but if the length of the cervix shortens before then, the risk of premature birth increases.
In general, in the case of pregnant women between 18 and 24 weeks of gestation, care is required if the cervical length is less than 2.5 cm. Progesterone therapy, which is a drug treatment, or cervical circular ligation, which is a physical method, can be used as preventive treatment.
In particular, in the case of high-risk mothers, it is necessary to know and correct risk factors for premature birth from the pre-pregnancy stage. If you are over 35 years of age or under 19 years of age, if you have had frequent miscarriages, deformities, or premature births, if you have a family history of genetic diseases, if you suffer from diabetes, high blood pressure, thyroid disease, asthma, etc., if you are underweight or obese, or if you have uterine or cervical deformities If present, they are classified as high-risk mothers. Multiple pregnancies through in vitro fertilization also increase the risk of complications for newborns and mothers, requiring attention.
Professor Ahn Ki-hoon said, “Identifying risk factors and preparing for them through pre-pregnancy examinations and regular examinations during pregnancy is a sure way to protect the health of mother and child.” It is important to receive,” he said.
Ahn Ki-hoon, professor of obstetrics and gynecology. Provided by Korea University
