What is Premature Birth?

The duration of most pregnancies is usually about 40 weeks but it is quite normal for a baby to be born a week or two earlier. However, when a baby is born before 37 weeks of gestation, it is said to be a premature birth and such babies are known as premature babies or preemies. Prematurity is a leading cause of perinatal mortality and morbidity.

Premature babies born around 36 to 37 weeks of gestation may be relatively free from complications, whereas those born much before the due dates are more likely to have serious problems which may require management in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Babies born before 24 weeks have less of a chance of survival. Complications usually arise as a result of immaturity of the lungs and other organs which have not yet developed fully at the time of birth and which may not be ready to function outside the uterus.

Early and regular prenatal care can reduce the risk of a premature birth.

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What is Stillbirth?

Stillbirth has no standard definition and the definition therefore varies in different countries. In the UK, stillbirths are those babies born dead after 24 weeks of gestation. In other countries, such as Australia, and many states in the USA, fetal death occurring after 20 weeks of gestation is termed as stillbirth. Instead of gestational age, some states use a fetal weight of 350 gm or more to define stillbirth.

Death may occur in the uterus at any stage of pregnancy or in labor. Most stillbirths occur prior to onset of labor and the most common symptom is loss of fetal movement. Some hours after the death of a fetus in the uterus, the skin begins to peel. On delivery, such a fetus is known as a macerated stillborn, as compared to fresh stillbirth.

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Male sex hormones known as androgens are present in both males and females. In men, the testes produces most of the androgens with small amounts contributed by the adrenal glands. In women, both the adrenal glands and ovaries produce androgens but the more significant quantity is the adrenal androgens. Disorders that give rise to large quantities of adrenal androgens causes virilization (maculinization) in women. Another rare cause of virilization is a tumor of the hilus cells in the ovary.

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What is Vacuum Extraction or Ventouse Delivery?

Vacuum extraction or ventouse delivery is a procedure where an instrument known as the vacuum extractor or ventouse is used to assist and speed up delivery.  A suction cap is applied to the baby’s head and gentle intermittent traction is given simultaneously with the uterine contractions and the mother’s bearing-down efforts.

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What is Forceps Delivery?

Forceps delivery is a form of assisted delivery or operative delivery where active measures are taken to accomplish vaginal delivery by means of an instrument known as the obstetric forceps. Simply, the forceps are used to help with the delivery of the baby through the vagina. This form of delivery has been an important part of obstetric practice for nearly 400 years. This procedure is best used by a skilled obstetrician only when there is a clear indication for its use. It aims to avoid a difficult vaginal delivery which may be harmful to the mother or baby.

continue reading Forceps Delivery Types, Procedure, Complications, Video