Causes of a spontaneously premature labour
Among the natural causes of premature births are:
- 50% are of unknown aetiology
- multiple pregnancy; typically for twins, delivery is between 36 and 38 weeks, for triplets 32 weeks
- polyhydramnios
- cervical incompetence and uterine anomalies
- premature rupture of membranes; 30 to 40% labour within 24 hours of the rupture
- intrauterine infection
- maternal malnutrition
- maternal infection
Risk factors include second trimester abortions and stillbirths. There is no increase associated with previous first trimester terminations of pregnancy providing there has been atraumatic cervical dilatation. Almost any severe maternal illness may be associated with preterm delivery.
Related pages
Create an account to add page annotations
Annotations allow you to add information to this page that would be handy to have on hand during a consultation. E.g. a website or number. This information will always show when you visit this page.