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Pregnancy Today's Health Advisory Panel Answers:
Am I at risk for preterm labor because of my family
history?
by Amy Nichols, RN, PCNS, EdD
Perinatal Clinical Nurse Specialist
Assistant Professor
San Francisco State University School of Nursing
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Question
Is premature delivery hereditary? Am I at risk because of my family
history? - Peggy, Houston.
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Answer
One of the great mysteries in obstetrics is what causes preterm labor and
delivery and how can you tell if someone is at risk for preterm labor. Even
with all of the technology and information we have today, we still do not
know what causes preterm labor and who is at risk. Up until now, there is
no evidence to support hereditary transfer of preterm labor or having your
babies prematurely.
There are, however, some risk factors that researchers have identified.
Some of those risk factors include previous preterm birth and delivery
(your risk of delivering preterm with each subsequent delivery
increases twofold each time). It would be safe to say that you are not
at risk for preterm delivery by hereditary factors. It is important for
your care provider to be aware of your mother's background just to give
people a "heads up" into your family history.
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