Essay On Premature Birth

If we want to comprehend child development, we first need to start before birth. We have known for decades that our health depends on the action that occurs between our genes and our environment and the effect they have upon one another. But also that a important part of that environment is in the womb before we are even born into the world.

Preterm birth, also known as premature birth, is the birth of a baby before 37 weeks gestational age. Babies born before the 37 week mark are known as preemies. Premature infants are at a bigger risk for cerebral palsy, delays in development, hearing problems and problems seeing. The earlier the baby is born, the bigger risk they have. Factors of cause of preterm birth consist of diabetes, high blood pressure, being pregnant with more then one baby, vaginal infections, tobacco smoking and a main one psychological stress.

Feelings of stress are very usual during pregnancy. They may come and go or they may prolong. In roughly 15% of pregnant women, these symptoms are fairly serious and can have an effect on the development of the fetus. There are two types of effect that stress has on the body. The first is the quick reaction to stress, which is known as the "fight or flight"
Today, both animal and human studies support the perception that maternal stress during pregnancy can have both short-term and long-term effects on her children. Prospective studies have shown that maternal stress and anxiety throughout pregnancy are connected to infant outcomes such as temperamental problems, problems with attention and emotional reactivity. A current major epidemiological study established some of the infant outcomes and showed relations between prenatal stress, anxiety and hyperactivity and inattention in boys, emotional problems in boys and girls, and conduct problems in