World premature day

Rahima Moosa Mother and Child Hospital staff together with the Nqobile qhawe foundation came together to celebrate world premature day on wednesday 19 November 2024.

All the dieticians dr. came together and contributed to making the day a success

Premature birth, defined as giving birth before 37 weeks of pregnancy have been completed, can result from a variety of factors.

So what causes premature birth?

There's no real scientific explanation of what causes preterm pregnancy but here are some some common causes and risk factors include:

Multiple Pregnancies: Carrying twins or multiples increases the likelihood of preterm labor.

Infections and Chronic Conditions: Infections of the uterus or urinary tract and chronic conditions like diabetes or hypertension can contribute to preterm birth.

Previous Preterm Birth: A history of premature births makes subsequent preterm deliveries more likely.

Cervical and Uterine Abnormalities: Issues with the cervix or uterus can increase the risk.

Certain Complications: Conditions such as placental abruption or placenta previa can lead to premature labor.

Lifestyle Factors: Smoking, drug use, excessive alcohol consumption, and poor nutrition can negatively impact pregnancy.

Stress: High levels of stress and emotional distress may contribute to preterm labor.

Inadequate Prenatal Care: Lack of proper prenatal care can result in untreated health issues that increase risks.

Age: Women under 17 or over 35 are at a greater risk for premature birth.

It's important for expectant mothers to attend regular prenatal check-ups and communicate any health concerns with their healthcare provider to help manage and reduce the risk of premature birth.

This information may not be exclusive to every women, experiences may differ.

History behind the hospital

Rahima Moosa Mother and Child Hospital is a maternity hospital in Coronationville, Johannesburg, South Africa. Prior to 2008, it was known as the Coronation Hospital.

The hospital was opened in October 1944 in the suburb of Coronationville.  It was a hospital established for people classified as Coloured and Indian  It would serve those local communities of Newclare, Noordgesig and Coronationville.  Until 1955, it would also take black patients from Pimville, Orlando and Sophiatown.

In 1995, all obstetrics and gynaecology departments were moved from the J.G. Strijdom Hospital which is now Helen Joseph hospital. On 29 September 2008, Coronation Hospital was renamed the Rahima Moosa Mother and Child Hospital by the Gauteng Provincial Minister of Health, Brian Hlongwa. Rahima Moosa was an anti-apartheid activist and took part in the 1956 Women's March, protesting passes for non-white women.

Nqobile Qhawe Foundation inspiration

Rahim Moosa hospital has been hosting premature day for more than 3 years now. The Nqobile Qhawe Foundation was established in 2022 inspired by Nqobile Zulus premature birth at 37 weeks in 2019 August. Nqobiles mum was told that her daughter would be a child with special needs because Nqobiles organs were not fully developed. She struggled with speech, delayed motor maturation and undernutrition. Gugu Zulu left her job to attend to her daughters health needs full-time to date. Nqobile Zulu has fully recovered.

Nqobile Qhawe Foundation aims to educate the public on preterm babies and how to care for them.