Title: What are the risk factors for preterm labor and birth? | NICHD - Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
Headings: What are the risk factors for preterm labor and birth?
What are the risk factors for preterm labor and birth?
Citations

Content: Diabetes (high blood sugar) and gestational diabetes (which occurs only during pregnancy)
Blood clotting problems
Other factors that may increase risk for preterm labor and premature birth include: Ethnicity. Preterm labor and birth occur more often among certain racial and ethnic groups. For example, infants of African American mothers are more likely to be born preterm than infants of white mothers. American Indian/Alaska Native mothers are also more likely to give birth preterm than are white mothers. 4
Age of the mother. Women younger than age 18 are more likely to have a preterm delivery. Women older than age 35 are also at risk of having preterm infants because they are more likely to have other conditions (such as high blood pressure and diabetes) that can cause complications requiring preterm delivery. 4
Certain lifestyle and environmental factors, including: 3
Late or no health care during pregnancy
Smoking
Drinking alcohol
Using illegal drugs
Domestic violence, including physical, sexual, or emotional abuse
Lack of social support
Stress
Long working hours with long periods of standing
Exposure to certain environmental pollutants
Citations
Ekwo, E. E., Gosselink, C. A., & Moawad, A. (1992).