# link between maternal stress and preterm delivery Link between Maternal Stress and Preterm Delivery/Birth MEDINDIA MEDINDIA Consult Online Doctor Courses Explore Healthy Living News Health A Z Calculators Articles Drugs Directories Education More Search Medindia Medindia » Articles » Lifestyle » Link between Maternal Stress and Preterm Delivery/Birth Link between Maternal Stress and Preterm Delivery Preterm Delivery Stress & Preterm Delivery Possible Stressors How to Reduce Stress? FAQs Written by Anita Ramesh Medically Reviewed by The Medindia Medical Review Team Last Updated on Aug 27, 2021 The birth of a baby before completion of 37 weeks of pregnancy is known as preterm delivery or preterm birth. Studies show that up to 1 in 10 babies are born prematurely. Babies born early can have several short term and long term medical complications. They may experience difficulty feeding, breathing, vision and hearing issues, cerebral palsy, behavioral problems, and developmental delays. The signs of early labor are similar to those of regular labor and include contractions, backache, pelvic pressure, and cramps. For women who have had prior such preterm deliveries, progesterone supplements can be helpful to reduce the risk. Other women who may have a shortened cervix can undergo surgery in which the cervix is stitched till delivery. This is known as cervical cerclage. Preterm birth is characterized by certain features that can be identified in babies. These include lanugo (a fuzzy kind of hair), breathing issues, absent reflexes, reduced body temperature, and a small body with a big head. Unfortunately, upto 17% of deaths in infants were due to being premature birth. Premature births have several possible causal factors. Some include: Simultaneous pregnancy with multiple children Problems with the uterus, pl… --- *Source: Medindia — https://www.medindia.net/health/lifestyle/link-between-maternal-stress-and-preterm-delivery.htm* *Full article (with references and related content) available with an XPay API key: https://medindia-articles.on.xpay.sh/health/lifestyle/link-between-maternal-stress-and-preterm-delivery.htm?key=YOUR_XPAY_KEY*