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The Pre-Term Infant
Just as we so often take for granted our ability to conceive,
until otherwise experienced - so do many mothers expect to sail
through pregnancy, bringing a full-term healthy infant into
existence, without even considering that they may become prey to
early labour and have to cope with a small, often sickly
underweight baby. And while many of us, in our last tiring weeks,
wish for the day to arrive, so as to be freed of this heavy load,
there are those mothers who under difficult circumstances earnestly
pray that their pregnancies will hold out for just another few
weeks, so that their unborn child will be given the advantage to be
born healthy and go on to lead a normal care-free life.
Many parents are far from ready when baby makes an unexpected
arrival, often a good few weeks before his anticipated due date, and
looking nothing like what you expected. Parents in this position are
overcome with worry over their baby's health, and live from
day-to-day in the fear that their tiny miracle may at any moment be
swept from their world. And what should be a joyous time spent
bonding and loving your infant, now becomes a terrible time of
sadness, as you watch helplessly from a distance.
Causes of Premature Delivery
Placenta praevia
Uterine abnormalities
Cervical incompetency
Maternal illness or infection
Age
Physical or emotional stress
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