Preterm birth can happen to any pregnant woman and may have no warning signs, but there are some risk factors that make a woman more likely to have a preterm baby. 

Risk factors include:

• Already having a preterm baby
• Family history of preterm birth
• Being pregnant with twins, triplets or more
• Certain birth defects in the baby

Medical risk factors for the mother:

• Infections such as urinary tract infections, vaginal infections, sexually transmitted infections and others
• Diabetes
• High blood pressure
• Blood clotting disorders
• Bleeding from the vagina
• Overweight or underweight
• Short time between pregnancies

Lifestyle risk factors for the mother:

• Late or no prenatal care
• Smoking while pregnant or being around other people’s smoke (second-hand smoke)
• Drinking alcohol or using illegal drugs
• Domestic violence
• Lack of social support
• Stress

For more information on this topic, download:
The Facts About Preterm Birth

 

 

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