Premature birth

 Written by: Wahida Sabir

 Premature birth occurs before the start of the 37th week of pregnancy. Premature babies, especially those born very early, often have complicated medical problems.

According to the neonatal ward of Kabul Children's Health Hospital, about 85 were prematurely born babies were brought to the mentioned hospital in one month.
AEPO’s writer/producer has talked about the causes, problems, and prevention of premature birth to some mothers and a doctor.
A mother from Laghman province says, “I gave birth to a bay after 26 weeks of gestation. His eyes were closed and he was suffering from jaundice too.”

A mother from Qarabagh district, Kabul province says, “Some of my babies are born prematurely. One of my daughters is now 8 years old but her toes nails don’t grow yet and my other children are weak and get sick soon.”

Doctor Shirnawaz, child specialist at Indira Gandhi Children’s Hospital, Kabul city says, “A baby borns before 37 weeks of pregnancy, has more problems. His/her respiratory system might have problems, that is, he/she soon suffers from pneumonia, has difficulty with breastfeeding; has problems with his/her nervous system; his/her liver might have problems, he/she infects with jaundice soon,his/her body would have the problems of lack of glucose and his/her skin fat causes him/her to feel cold very soon and these problems might cause the death.”

What do some mothers think about premature birth?

A mother, a resident of Parwan province says, “I married when I was sixteen, I got pregnant early and gave birth to an eight months baby.”

A mother from Qarabagh district says, “We are living in a rural area and we do hard work. When we carry water from a remote place, it causes pressure on pregnant mother and in the result, she gives to a premature baby.”

Doctor Shirnawaz says, “Premature births include: Pregnancy before the age of 18 or after the age of 40; Anemia; chronic diseases such as diabetes; Heart disease or high blood pressure of the mother; Malnutrition; mothers who give birth to twin babies or more; gap Less than two years between births; giving birth to many babies; difficult births, not going to the clinic during pregnancy and so on.”

How do some mothers prevent premature birth?

A mother from Kabul city says, “My two babies were born prematurely. When I checked my blood, it was infected. The doctor prescribed me some medicines and now I normally give birth to my baby.”

A mother from Chaharasiab district, Kabul province says, “I eat vegetables and fresh fruits during my pregnancy and have not  faced any problem yet.”

Doctor Shirnawaz says, “Mothers should treat and control their chronic diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, anemia, etc.  They should not be pregnant before the age of 18; the gap between birth should not be less than 2 years; they should eat more vegetables; beans; dairy products and regularly go to the clinic or visit the obstetrician and avoid taking medicine without the prescription of the physician.”