Lower your risk for premature birth
Premature birth is when your baby is born before 37 weeks of pregnancy. Your baby needs about 40 weeks in the womb to grow and develop before birth. Premature babies can have serious health problems when they are born and later in life.
Sometimes you can do everything right in pregnancy and still give birth early. But there are some things you can do to decrease your risk of going into labor early.
- Don’t smoke, drink alcohol, use drugs or abuse prescription medicines.
- Go to your first prenatal care checkup as soon as you think you’re pregnant. During pregnancy, go to all of your prenatal care checkups.
- Ask your care provider how much weight you should gain during pregnancy.
- Get treated for any health problems, such as diabetes, high blood pressure or depression.
- Protect yourself from infections. Talk to your provider about vaccinations you can get. Wash your hands often and don’t eat raw meat, fish or eggs.
- Decrease your stress. Ask family and friends for help around the house, eat healthy and do something active every day.
- Wait at least 18 months after giving birth to get pregnant again.
If you’re not sure about the signs and symptoms of premature labor, ask your doctor to go over them with you.
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