DOHA: Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) yesterday joined the international community in observing World Prematurity Day, which aims to highlight global initiatives to address pre-term birth and improve healthcare outcomes for mothers and newborns.
Pre-term births at HMC hospitals currently stand at about eight percent of all births every year, but significant improvements in the quality of health care for both mothers and newborns have resulted in declining death rates among mothers and newborns.
To observe the day, HMC’s Women’s Hospital held a special gathering recently for about 40 families of babies who have been treated at the Hospital’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). The gathering gave families an opportunity to meet and share their experiences in the NICU and celebrate the day together with children and NICU staff.
Pre-term birth is the birth of a baby before 37 weeks of pregnancy. The prevention of preterm births is a critical aim of obstetrics and research globally, and is among the priority areas of Qatar’s National Health Strategy for maternal and child health.
Some of the risk factors for premature birth include history of pre-term labour and delivery, multiple pregnancies (twins, triplets or more) by assisted reproduction techniques, genital tract infection, gum disease, and abnormalities in the uterus. Other factors may include obesity and its associated diseases such as diabetes and hypertension, elective induction of labour and/or elective caesarean sections that occur before 39 weeks of pregnancy. Very young mothers and those who have babies at a later age are also at greater risk.
Dr Hilal Al Rifai, Women’s Hospital Medical Director and Director of its Neonatal/Perinatal Services and the Qatar Newborn Screening Program said that pre-pregnancy consultation is an important aspect of prenatal care for women or couples who are planning to have a child.
He said that women can seek a referral from their primary health care doctor to avail of quality maternity care services at Women’s Hospital and other HMC hospitals including Al Khor Hospital, Al Wakra Hospital and the Cuban Hospital.
Early detection is important to help prevent preterm birth and give the baby a better chance of survival. HMC urges pregnant women to watch out for sudden and persistent warning signs of pre-term labour such as lower back ache, contractions every 10 minutes or more, menstrual-like cramping, flu-like symptoms, increased pressure in the pelvis (lower abdomen) or vagina, fluid leaking or increased vaginal discharge and/or light bleeding. Any expectant woman observing these signs should seek immediate medical assistance or dial 999 for HMC’s Ambulance Service.
The Peninsula
