How to arrive on time
CALCIUM KEY TO AVOIDING PREM BIRTHS, SAYS DOC
A DIET high in calcium is the key to curbing the country’s pre-term birthrates, according to a Geelong obstetrician.
Data obtained by the Geelong Advertiser showed pre-term births, less than 37 weeks, accounted for 10 per cent of all births at Geelong hospital so far this year.
In 2017, the 244 pre-term births recorded accounted for 9.75 per cent of all births.
Obstetrician and gynaecologist Marilla Druitt said the rate was impacted by a range of factors, including women giving birth later in life and becoming more overweight as a society.
As medicine and technology has improved, women with medical conditions have also become more confident making the decision to have children but they cannot necessarily make it full term.
Dr Druitt said there were certain things women could do, or avoid doing, to reduce their chances of a giving birth pre-term.
“All around the world we know if people are not having enough calcium in their diet, they are more likely to have pre-term baby or small baby,” she said.
“Fish with the bones in them, tofu and dairy — but not soft chesses — are all really good.
“Whenever we tell people to eat more fish, particularly in the first 12 weeks when they feel a bit sick, they’re not always happy with that but it matters most after 20 weeks.”
Dr Druitt said about half of the women in Australia having a baby were overweight, which could increase pre-term birth risk.
Aiming for a BMI score of between 20 and 24 and having medical conditions such as diabetes well treated before pregnancy are important.
Dr Druitt said there was also research to show women who have had a previous case of pre-eclampsia, or whose risk of developing it was high, could reduce their chance of pre-term birth with a low dose — less than 150ml per day — of aspirin.
While Dr Druitt says Victoria is one of the safest places in the world to o have a baby, she would like to see the state take the lead from Western Australia and develop a statewide approach driving the pre-term birthrate down.
“That program included checking how long the cervix is at the 20-week scan, which we now do in Geelong as well. We can use progesterone if it looks like they have a cervix that is short or shortening,” she said.
“It would be wonderful (to have a similar program here). It was an excellent idea based on evidence to start with and it’s working.”
Geelong hospital recently achieved a service level five status, meaning it can provide care to women with medium-risk pregnancies and births with moderate complications.