The parliamentary spokeswoman of Podemos, whom we could see a few days ago talking about motherhood on a television show, just gave birth prematurely to Leo and Manuel, the twins I expected for September-October. They were born with six months (approximately 28 weeks gestation), when the normal duration of pregnancy is 40 weeks.
The delivery took place at nine o'clock in the morning in a Madrid hospital and the situation of the children is "delicate", since they are under observation awaiting their evolution.
Very premature babies
Every year 15 million premature babies are born in the world. Births that occur between week 37 and 42 of gestation are considered term, those that occur before week 37 are considered premature, very premature those that occur between week 28 and 32 and extreme premature or large premature those who They arrive in the world between the 22nd and 28th week of gestation.
Every week in the womb is essential for the development of babies, since prematurely born children do not have their fully developed organs and weigh less, and therefore, are exposed to more complications.
Causes of premature births
There is no single cause that triggers preterm births and any pregnant woman can have a premature birth, although there are several other factors that could be associated, mainly:
- Maternal diseases before and during pregnancy, such as preclampsia or eclapsy
- History of premature births or repeat abortions
- Uterine malformation
- Infections in pregnancy
- Having a multiple pregnancy
- Mother's stress
According to a study by Anhui Medical University, China conducted in 2010 and published in American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, suffer stressful experiences at the beginning of pregnancy It can induce the birth of children who are underweight or very premature.
The increase in the production of certain hormones associated with stress and depression would play a significant role in triggering labor.
Complications of premature babies
Its low weight and still immature organs, especially the lungs, make babies born before term are exposed to greater complications than those born at term such as:
- Respiratory problems: such as respiratory distress syndrome (RDS), apnea of ​​prematurity, bronchopulmonary dysplasia and pneumonia, due to immaturity of the lungs.
- Anemia: premature babies are at high risk of having lower levels of red blood cells.
- Inability to regulate body temperature: They are born with low body fat and immature skin, which makes it difficult to maintain body heat.
- Retinopathy: affects most premature babies between 24 to 26 weeks of gestation, but rarely affects them beyond 33 to 34 weeks of gestation.
- Intraventricular hemorrhage: Babies born before 34 weeks have a higher risk of bleeding in the brain.
- Greater vulnerability to infections, especially to necrotizing enterocolitis, a disease that causes the destruction of parts of the intestine.
- Immature gastrointestinal and digestive system: Your digestive system is still immature to absorb nutrients, so they are fed intravenously
- Jaundice: a condition characterized by high levels of bilirubin in the blood.
We hope that Irene Montero's premature babies evolve favorably in the coming days and in a few weeks we can give the news that they are already at home with their parents. And of course, all our support to parents, because when your baby is born premature and nothing is as planned, the uncertainty is very large.
