3 Things You Need to Know about Premature Birth Risks

Worried whether you’re at risk for a premature birth? Discover 3 things you need to know about premature birth risks, and the solutions available to you.

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of PreTRM® Test. All opinions are 100% mine.

It was one of the first questions I’d asked my doctor during my pregnancy: “What can I do to prevent a premature birth?”

Like every pregnant mom, I wanted to carry my baby to full term and avoid the health problems that could last him a lifetime.

But as advanced as medicine can be, my doctor answered that there were no guarantees. The best we could do was regular monitoring and practicing healthy habits, but that sometimes, things just happen for no good reason.

3 things you need to know about premature birth risks

This week is National Women’s Health Week, and I wanted to share a few facts about premature birth risks you may not know about. Because the more informed we can be about risk factors, the better decisions we can make.

1. Half of premature births show no signs of risk factors

Premature birth is the leading cause of newborn death and can happen to anyone. In fact, up to half of all women in the U.S. who had a premature birth didn’t have any known risk factors. Other times, certain women are at increased risk but don’t know they are.

2. The best predictor isn’t helpful to first-time moms

The best predictor of preterm birth? Having a previous spontaneous preterm birth. Unfortunately, 40% of women who deliver preemies are first-time moms with no previous pregnancies to rely on as an indicator.

3. Early predictions can provide doctors valuable information

Early predictions can provide doctors information they need to monitor high-risk pregnancies. The earlier your doctor can gauge whether you’re high-risk, the more steps she can take to monitor you. You’re also better able to prepare for a possible early delivery and plan accordingly.

How the PreTRM Test is helping reduce the global problem of premature births

For the first time, a prenatal blood test can help predict a woman’s likelihood of having a premature birth.

The PreTRM test is the first and only prenatal blood test clinically validated to predict preterm birth. It works on women carrying one baby who show no signs of premature birth risks, even early in her pregnancy.

How does it work? Your healthcare provider will order and administer the PreTRM test during the 19th or 20th week of pregnancy. She’ll then determine the next steps in managing your pregnancy based on your results and assessment.

Early predictions can help doctors monitor your pregnancy long before complications arise in the later stages of pregnancy. You’re also able to prepare for a potential early delivery, or rest assured that you’re not at risk for one.

From first-time mom to having had premature births in the past, the PreTRM test can be exactly what you need to know the next steps to take.

Learn more about this groundbreaking test, and how it can help reduce premature birth:

Learn about the PreTRM test right here