7 things that could lead to preterm labour and you can prevent it!

There are certain factors that put an expectant mother at a risk of miscarriage and preterm labour – maternal age, cervical incompetence, infections, etc. Usually, you don’t have control over most of the things, there are certain things that you do (albeit unknowingly) which increases your risk by manifold. Here are a few of them.

Smoking: When you smoke, you inhale around 4000 odd chemicals. However, with every puff the nicotine and carbon monoxide that gets inside your body causes the maximum damage. Nicotine narrows the blood vessels in your body including the ones in the umbilical cord, responsible for supplying oxygen and nutrient to the baby. On the other hand, carbon monoxide sticks to the red blood cells that are supposed to carry oxygen to the baby there by increasing the risk of preterm labour or even stillbirth.

More than two cups of coffee: Not only coffee, but the caffeine from any source — chocolates, colas and health drinks can make it difficult for your baby to live longer in the womb. Remember caffeine is a stimulant that raises your heart rate and induces symptoms of heartburn and acidity. With the progression of your pregnancy, your body’s ability to break down caffeine slows down, and you end up with high levels of it remaining in the bloodstream. ‘Excessive caffeine in the body, especially during the first trimester, can lead to miscarriages or preterm labour,’ says Deepshika Agarwal sports nutritionist and dietician. Here are other reasons of miscarriage you need to know.

Being overweight: There is a reason you should be wary of your binge eating habits during pregnancy and tame your sweet tooth. Other than increasing your caloric intake, it also increases your chances of suffering from pre-eclampsia or gestational diabetes. Both the conditions can increase the risk of preterm labour. Here are symptoms of premature labour you need to know.

Too much exercise: Exercising during pregnancy does not increase the risk of spontaneous abortion or preterm labour in any way. In fact, regular exercise may reduce the risk of some complications of pregnancy such as gestational diabetes. However, going overboard with it could be dangerous. Trying any new strenuous exercise during pregnancy that could put pressure on the abdomen, or planning to run a mile extra could be perilous and harm the fetus, trigger preterm labour or set the stage of a miscarriage. Here are nine things to keep in mind while exercising during pregnancy.

Stress: A study published in The Journal of Physiology found that increased levels of stress hormones in the mother triggered hunger but reduced the ability of the placenta to transport nutrients to her fetus. It resulted in reduced fetal weight, slowed fetal development and in some cases triggered preterm labour.

Alcohol: Alcohol consumption during pregnancy, even occasionally,can be fatal for the growing baby. Alcohol, when consumed by the expectant mother, passes through the placenta and reaches the baby. Unlike the adult liver that is developed and can eliminate toxins from the system effectively, the organs of the fetus are still in its formative phase and isn’t as effective in dealing with such toxins. Apart from hampering fetal development it could lead to preterm labour or miscarriages. Here are eight physiological causes of preterm labour that you should know about.

Bad oral hygiene: ‘Studies indicate that the body releases hormones in response to an oral infection that are similar to the ones released during labour. So an oral infection, whether it is cavities, inflammation, bleeding gums or mouth ulcers, can lead to preterm labour,’ says Dr Shantanu Jaradi, Aesthetic Dentist, Dentzz Dental Care, Mumbai. More reasons why you should get your teeth checked even before planning a pregnancy. Here is your ultimate guide to oral care during pregnancy.

Originally published on www.healthsite.com