The term perinatal is related to events or phenomena occurring during the period of birth, whether before, during or after.
Duration of the perinatal period
These events are studied and treated by a branch of medicine called Perinatology. This frames the perinatal period at a time located between the 28th week of pregnancy and the baby’s first week of life.
The neonatal is a period of time that initially overlaps with the perinatal period. The neonatal phase ranges from birth to the first 28 days of the baby’s life; at this stage it is known as a newborn or neonate.
This period is of great importance, as childbirth takes place there. At this stage, gynecological controls are performed more frequently. Perinatal
It is also in the perinatal stage that a series of conditions must be monitored and identified, both in the mother and the fetus, which can affect delivery or even the health and life of the mother and child .
Possible complications that occur at this stage
From the 28th week of pregnancy onwards, the third trimester begins, a period in which a series of events can occur that result in the premature or premature birth of the baby. This is mainly related to the appearance of gynecological infections that damage the membranes surrounding the baby, which leads to break with the consequent loss of amniotic fluid by stimulating the beginning of the work delivery. Perinatal
Other common disorders of this period include problems that can affect the mother before or during labor. Problems such as elevated blood pressure in the mother (eclampsia) or an abnormal presentation of the baby at birth (presentation of the foot or foot, transverse presentation, dystocia). This last condition can lead to prolonged and difficult labor, causing injuries such as pain and tears in the mother or asphyxia in the newborn.
These problems have a greater impact in societies of low socioeconomic or cultural level , where there is no easy access to more complex medical care that allows for procedures such as cesarean section and newborn resuscitation. In the past, this was an important cause of perinatal mortality, but even if it decreases, it still occurs especially in mothers with low weight, in those who had several births, in smokers and in those who did not have adequate prenatal control.
Complications can also occur after birth, especially infections of the mother’s uterus due to retention of placental remains, as well as puerperal hemorrhages or infections of the fetus, especially in the area of the umbilical cord.
