Why Is It Important To Deliver a Full Term Baby?

Most pregnancies last for 9 months or 270 days. If a baby is born before 37 weeks gestation, he/she is considered to be pre-term.

Pre-term babies are at risk of suffering from these conditions:

· Problems with breathing

· Feeding problems because they may have more trouble sucking and swallowing

• Newborn jaundice, which causes their skin and the white part of their eyes to look yellow

• Problems regulating their body temperature

• A smaller and less developed brain when they are born.

• Long term problems such as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

Greater susceptibility to diabetes, high blood pressure or heart disease when they become adults

Most of the time, if a baby is carried to full term, this ensures that they have a good chance for a healthy start in life. Ensuring that mothers eat healthy foods, get rest and exercise, reduce stress and receive social support as well as routine prenatal care is the best way to ensure that baby gets off to a good start - and is born as close to the expected delivery date as possible!.