12 percent of babies born in Turkey last year started life early

SAFAKNA TURKEY – Every year on November 17, World Prematurity Day is celebrated around the world to draw attention to the problems faced by premature babies and raise public awareness on this issue.

According to information received from the General Directorate of Health of the Ministry of Health, with an average duration of a normal pregnancy of 40 weeks, children born before 37 weeks are considered “premature”.

The earlier the birth, the greater the risks to the health of the baby. While very young premature babies born before 28 weeks of age are at the highest risk, babies born between 28 and 31 weeks are at moderate risk, and babies born between 32 and 26 weeks are at risk. the lowest risk.

15 MILLION BABIES A YEAR ARE BORN TERM IN THE WORLD

The World Health Organization (WHO) claims that the rate of preterm birth in different countries ranges from 5 to 18 percent. According to WHO, while 15 million children worldwide are born prematurely, more than 1 million children die before reaching the age of 1 year due to this cause.

The rate of premature births in Turkey is the same as in the world. Of the 1,79,842 babies born in 2021, 12 percent were born prematurely. While 88.5 percent of these babies are aged 32-36 weeks, 11.5 percent are hello to life before 32 weeks.

THE MOST IMPORTANT CAUSE IS HIGH RISK PREGNANCY

In particular, premature babies born before adequate development of organ systems and tissues are at higher risk in terms of learning and behavioral disorders, cerebral palsy, cognitive deficits, infections, and chronic diseases compared to babies born at term.

A significant proportion of preterm births are associated with high-risk pregnancies. In addition, causes such as early pregnancy, frequent births, malnutrition and inadequate care of pregnant women, multiple pregnancies increase the risk of having a premature baby.

In multiple pregnancies, the gestation period shortens as the number of children increases. In twins, the birth rate at 35 weeks is 2 times higher, at 33 weeks – 3 times, at 29 weeks – 4 times. In Turkey, the multiple pregnancy rate is 2.3 percent.

PROSPECTIVE MOTHERS ARE SUPPORTED AT EVERY STAGE, UNTIL BIRTH

Antenatal care, especially proper follow-up for high-risk pregnancies and necessary emergency interventions, are essential to prevent preterm birth.

The Ministry of Health provides many services to expectant mothers, such as antenatal care and follow-up, tetanus immunization, iron maintenance therapy, promotion of adequate iodine intake, nutritional counseling, detection and treatment of infections during pregnancy, blood pressure control, and breastfeeding education. in family medicine and hospitals.

Prenatal, labor and postnatal periods are available to all in pregnancy information sessions at district health departments, community health or wellness centers, as well as maternity schools and hospital-based birth preparation and counseling centres.

PLANNING FOR PREGNANCY SHOULD NOT IMPLIED REGULAR CONTROL

There are some issues that expectant mothers should pay attention to in order to give birth to a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby.

In this regard, it is important to contact the family doctor or obstetrician for regular check-ups from the period when pregnancy is expected, give the doctor reliable and complete information about the history, and stop smoking as soon as possible. when pregnancy is planned or noticed.

In addition, do not consume alcohol, drugs and addictive substances during pregnancy, stay away from over-the-counter drugs, eat a healthy and balanced diet, maintain healthy weight control during pregnancy, avoid hard work and heavy lifting, do not stand. for a long time, avoid stress, do not neglect physical activity. The use of relaxation techniques, such as breathing techniques and attention to personal hygiene and food consumed to prevent infections, also helps to lay the foundations for a healthy birth.

Those who have previously had a preterm birth should go to a health facility starting with the pregnancy planning process, those who have cervical insufficiency should be treated according to the recommendations of their obstetrician, and expectant mothers with chronic diseases should not neglect regular examinations. UPS.

EARLY BIRTHS SHOULD NOT BE TREATED AS A DISEASE

It is argued that the healthiest option for babies and expectant mothers is a timely and normal birth. However, despite certain health risks for the baby, preterm birth should not be taken as a disease.

Premature babies also have the ability to lead productive and healthy lives, which can go through a normal developmental process, but they may have trouble activating this ability on their own.

The information and technological advances that are developing day by day in Turkey as well as in the world, the services offered in hospitals for the care of newborns, ensure the survival of premature babies and their integration into society as healthy people.