Premature Birth Causes & Risks

Causes

There are many reasons why a woman would go into labor before her scheduled due date, including:

• Having previously delivered prematurely
• A ruptured amniotic sac (ruptured membranes)
• Infections of the urinary tract or cervix
• A weak cervix—prior surgical procedures
• Abnormalities in the uterus, including fibroids and malformations of the uterus
• Twins or higher number of fetuses
• Smoking, drinking, or using drugs during pregnancy—especially cocaine
• Poor nutrition during pregnancy
• Too much amniotic fluid (polyhydramnios)
• Chronic diseases like:
  • Diabetes
  • High blood pressure
  • Kidney disease
  • Lupus

Risk Factors

A risk factor is something that increases your chance of getting a disease or condition.

The following factors increase your chance of delivering prematurely:

• Having multiple births (twins, triplets, quadruplets, etc.)
• Having a chronic disease—For example, if you have poorly controlled asthma , this may increase your risk. *¹
• Having had a previous premature birth
• Poor prenatal care, or poor nutrition during pregnancy
• Substance abuse during pregnancy