Pre-term birth

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Pre-term birth

Pre-term birth (pronunciation: /priːˈtɜːm bɜːrθ/), also known as premature birth, is a birth that takes place more than three weeks before the baby's estimated due date. In other words, a premature birth is one that occurs before the start of the 37th week of pregnancy.

Etymology

The term "pre-term" is derived from the Latin words "prae", meaning "before", and "terminus", meaning "end or limit". The term "birth" comes from the Old English "gebyrd", meaning "to bear or carry".

Definition

Pre-term birth is defined as the birth of an infant before 37 weeks of gestation. It is further classified into three subtypes:

Causes

The exact causes of pre-term birth are still not fully understood. However, it is known that pre-term birth can be initiated by multiple conditions, including premature rupture of membranes and placental abruption.

Related Terms

  • Premature rupture of membranes (PROM): This is a condition that occurs when the amniotic sac breaks before labor begins.
  • Placental abruption: This is a serious condition in which the placenta detaches from the uterus before childbirth.
  • Neonatology: This is a subspecialty of pediatrics that consists of the medical care of newborn infants, especially the ill or premature newborn infant.

See Also

External links

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