Problems with the womb and premature birth

If your healthcare team discovers that you have an unusually shaped womb/uterus, you will be closely monitored for signs that your baby may be born early.

Different shapes of womb/uterus

If your healthcare team discovers that you have an unusually shaped womb/uterus, you will be closely monitored for signs that your baby may be born early.

The shape of your womb can affect your likelihood of premature delivery. Some women have a bicornuate (heart-shaped) womb, others can have a unicornuate womb (half the size of a normal womb).

There are various different shapes of womb that make you more likely to give birth prematurely - mainly because there is less space for the baby, so the body prepares itself for an earlier birth. However, most women who have an unusually shaped womb have uncomplicated births.

Other womb-related risk factors for premature birth

Other factors related to the womb that can lead to premature delivery include:

overstretching of the womb - usually in women with multiple pregnancies (twins, triplets and so on)
a retained contraceptive coil or intrauterine device (IUD).

In this section

Explaining premature birth:

Your premature baby:

You can also read about

Sources

Henderson D, Macdonald S (2004) Mayes Midwifery (13^th edition), London, Balliere Tindall

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