In most instances the causes of prematurity are not known.

However, the following conditions are considered:

a. Poor diet.

b. Poor health.

c. Cervical incompetence.

d. Multiple pregnancies/births.

e. Advanced age of parents.

f. Trauma.

g. Toxemia.

h. Congenital malformations of the fetus.

i. Chronic infection or disease of the mother (i.e., syphilis, tuberculosis, cardiac disease, and diabetes).

j. Acute infection of the mother (that is, pneumonia and rheumatic fever).