Transcript PowerPoint

Julie Garden-Robinson
Food and Nutrition Specialist
Preterm Pregnancy Facts



Babies born before the 37th week of
pregnancy are “premature” or “preterm”
Nationwide, one in eight babies were
born preterm in 2003
The rate of preterm births in North
Dakota increased 32% between 1993
and 2003
What Are Risks for Babies Born
Preterm?


Many babies will “catch up” with fullterm babies
Preterm babies often are at higher risk
of health problems and disabilities
What Causes Preterm Birth?
Half of preterm births have
unknown causes
Who Can Have a Premature
Baby?
Any women can
have in a
preterm baby
What Increases Your Risk?






Previous preterm births
Pregnancy with twins, triplets or other
multiples
Being younger than 17 years or older
than 35
Smoking
Alcohol or Drug Abuse
Unplanned pregnancy
What Are Some Signs and Symptoms
of Preterm Labor?



Cramps or pelvic pressure
A low, dull headache
Contractions every 10 minutes
• Your health-care provider can determine
preterm labor
What Should You Do if You Have
Signs of Preterm Labor?

Call your health-care provider or hospital
• You may need to come in immediately OR
• You may be told to:
•Stop what you’re doing
•Drink 2-3 glasses of water
•Lie down on your left side for an hour
•Monitor contractions
•Call your health-care provider again and
describe what is happening
Healthy Pregnancy Checklist:





Have a pre-pregnancy
checkup and prenatal
care
Eat a balanced, varied
diet
Don’t smoke
Don’t drink alcohol or
use drugs
Reduce stress



Consult your healthcare provider before
taking medications
Consume a supplement
containing 400
micrograms of folic acid
Gain appropriate weight
For More Information About
Healthy Pregnancy, Visit:


March of Dimes
• www.marchofdimes.com
The National Women’s Health
Information Center
• www.4women.gov/Pregnancy/
For More Information About
Nutrition and Health, Visit:
http://www.ag.ndsu.edu/food/
Presentation by Bridget Curley, Program Assistant