Prematurity: Why are babies born too soon?

What Is Prematurity?

A premature, or preterm, birth is one that happens before 37 completed weeks of pregnancy. Babies born this early may need extra medical help because their organs, particularly the lungs, brain, and digestive system, have had less time to develop.

Doctors often group prematurity by how early a baby arrives: extremely preterm (before 28 weeks), very preterm (28 to 32 weeks), and moderate to late preterm (32 to 37 weeks). Late preterm babies, born closest to term, generally face fewer challenges, but every premature baby deserves careful, attentive care.

How Common Is Preterm Birth?

Preterm birth is a major global health issue. According to the World Health Organization and UNICEF, an estimated 13.4 million babies were born preterm in 2020, roughly 1 in 10 births worldwide. Sadly, complications of prematurity remain the leading cause of death in children under five.

Perhaps the most sobering finding from recent global data is that preterm birth rates have barely changed in a decade, holding at around 9.9% of births in 2020 compared with 9.8% in 2010. That lack of progress is exactly why prevention, early recognition, and quality maternity support matter so much. Preterm birth isn’t only a low-income-country problem either, rates of 10% or higher are seen in some high-income countries too.

Why Are Babies Born Too Soon? Causes of Prematurity

There isn’t always one clear reason a baby arrives early, and often it’s a combination of factors. The most common contributors include:

• Maternal health conditions, such as high blood pressure, pre-eclampsia, or diabetes.
• Infections, including urinary tract infections and some sexually transmitted infections.
• Placental problems, where the placenta doesn’t function as it should.
• Cervical weakness or shortening, sometimes following previous surgery or procedures.
• Multiple pregnancies, twins or more, because the body faces greater demands supporting more than one baby.
• Lifestyle factors, such as smoking, drug use, and insufficient or delayed prenatal care.

Importantly, many premature births happen with no identifiable cause at all, and no fault of the mother. If your baby arrived early, it’s vital to know this is very rarely something you could have prevented.

Supporting a Premature Baby: What Really Helps

Caring for a premature baby takes patience, knowledge, and a strong support network. These are the pillars we focus on with families:

Education and awareness. Knowledge is genuinely empowering. Understanding preterm birth, its warning signs, and what to expect helps parents recognise problems early and make confident decisions. Keeping open, regular communication with your healthcare team, asking every question, however small, is central to good care.

A flexible birth plan. Drafting a plan that includes preferences for neonatal care, such as kangaroo care (skin-to-skin contact), colostrum harvesting, and breastfeeding, helps parents feel prepared and involved even if birth doesn’t go as expected.

A support network. Family, friends, and midwives all play a role in providing emotional and practical help during an intensely stressful time. You are not meant to carry this alone.

Looking after yourself. Good nutrition, adequate rest, and stress management aren’t luxuries, they’re essential. A parent who is supported and cared for is better able to care for a fragile newborn.

Specialist medical care. Premature babies often need care in a Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU) or Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), where experienced professionals monitor the baby closely and manage any complications.

Can Premature Birth Be Prevented?

While not every preterm birth can be avoided, some steps genuinely lower the risk: attending regular antenatal appointments, treating infections promptly, avoiding smoking and alcohol, managing existing health conditions, and receiving continuous, personalized maternity care.

That last point matters more than many realize. Research shows that combining continuity of care with personalized support is one of the most effective ways to reduce the risk of preterm birth, women who see the same trusted midwife throughout pregnancy have a notably lower likelihood of delivering early. This is precisely the kind of care our team is built to provide.

Premature Birth Support in Abu Dhabi

For families in the UAE, a premature birth can feel especially isolating, often far from extended family and navigating an unfamiliar system. The right support changes everything.

At NativaCare, our community midwives offer the continuity and personalized attention that both protect against preterm birth and support families through it. Our midwife services in Abu Dhabi include antenatal preparation and education to help you prepare with confidence, postnatal recovery support for the weeks after birth, and dedicated breastfeeding support, which is especially valuable for premature babies.