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Preparing for an early birth
Premature birth also known as an early birth is when a baby is born before 37 weeks of pregnancy. There are different categories of prematurity: extremely preterm (less than 28 weeks), very preterm (28 to 32 weeks), or moderate to late preterm (32 to 37 weeks). Sometimes babies may arrive before their due date. This may be planned or it may happen unexpectedly. In some cases, pre-term labour or birth is planned because it's safer for the baby to be born sooner rather than later. This could be because of a health condition in the mother (such as pre-eclampsia) or in the baby (such as fetal growth restriction). If you are advised to give birth early, you may be offered an induction or caesarean section.
If you think your baby may arrive early, the below video may help you prepare for this. If you have any concerns about premature labour or birth then you should speak with the professionals in charge of your care for advice at your local hospital.