Premature birth NOT inevitable; gynaecologist-recommended tips to prevent it

New Delhi: Every year, one in ten babies enters the world before their time. That's approximately 15 million preterm births globally, a staggering figure that represents the leading cause of death in children under five years worldwide. Yet what many don't realize is that a significant proportion of these premature births are preventable with timely identification and appropriate intervention.

In an interaction with TV9 English, Dr. Kinjal Avdhut Kothari, Associate Consultant – OBG, Manipal Hospital, Goa, spoke about how preterm births need not be an inevitability. Here's how your lifestyle choices can make a difference.

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The key lies in understanding why premature births happen and recognising that prevention begins long before labor starts. Preterm birth delivery before 37 completed weeks of gestation results from a complex interplay of maternal, fetal, and placental factors. Common culprits include intrauterine infections, cervical insufficiency, multiple gestations, maternal hypertension, and gestational diabetes. Maternal factors like young maternal age, smoking, poor nutritional status, and inadequate interpregnancy intervals further amplify risk.

What's often overlooked is that maternal health before pregnancy significantly influences outcomes. Women with chronic conditions, obesity, or a history of previous preterm delivery enter pregnancy with heightened vulnerability. This is precisely why preconception counseling deserves greater emphasis in routine practice.

The shift from reactive to proactive management has been transformative. Transvaginal ultrasound cervical length assessment at 18-24 weeks has emerged as a powerful predictive tool. A short cervix, particularly when measuring ≤25 mm, reliably identifies high-risk pregnancies requiring intervention. This simple screening has prevented countless admissions to neonatal intensive care units and has allowed us to act before complications arise.

Interventions to prevent PTB

Lifestyle Modifications

Smoking cessation, stress management, and adequate nutrition are not luxuries—they are essentials. Women who quit smoking during pregnancy reduce their preterm birth risk significantly. Similarly, extending interpregnancy intervals to at least 18 months allows maternal recovery and reduces recurrence risk.

Anemia, a frequently overlooked risk factor, deserves routine screening and management. Iron supplementation and nutritional counseling optimize maternal health and reduce adverse outcomes.

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Perhaps most critically, high-risk pregnancies benefit from structured care coordination. Dedicated preterm birth prevention clinics with regular assessments, enhanced monitoring, and easy access to healthcare providers have demonstrated remarkable success in reducing spontaneous preterm births.

Premature birth need not be inevitable. Every week a baby remains in the womb increases their survival chances and reduces lifelong morbidity. Through vigilant screening, timely intervention, and comprehensive antenatal care, we can collectively prevent thousands of premature births. Our role extends beyond managing complications—it is about preventing them!