Premature Birth and Low-Birthweight Infants are in the News

By Deirdre Wilson

More and more U.S. women are going into premature labor and delivering low-birthweight babies, prompting concerns about the risks of resulting disabilities and even early death among infants.

Stay current with news of the latest research and studies that relate to premature birth, the health and developmental issues of low-birthweight infants, and the effects of lengthy NICU stays on both infants and thier families. Updated weekly.

One in every eight babies is born prematurely (before the 37th week of pregnancy) and one in every 12 babies is born at a low birthweight – 5 pounds, 8 ounces, or less, according to the March of Dimes. Prematurity is currently the leading cause of death in babies.

Certainly, low-birthweight births are due in part to premature labor, but health-care providers and researchers still aren’t certain why premature labor occurs. Pregnant women who smoke, drink alcohol or take illicit drugs, or have chronic health problems, such as diabetes, all risk giving birth prematurely. But researchers say there’s a significant number of women who seem to have normal, healthy pregnancies and, yet, still go into premature labor.

Low-birthweight babies are at risk of heart, vision and breathing problems, according to the March of Dimes.

Since premature labor is one factor leading to low-birthweight babies, the March of Dimes advises all pregnant women to see their health-care provider for a complete physical exam to identify chronic health problems, such as diabetes and high blood pressure, that could interfere with a pregnancy. Taking a multivitamin containing 400 micrograms of folic acid daily can reduce the risk of premature birth.

There is a test that pregnant women can request from their doctor to determine whether they’re likely to give birth preterm. The Fetal Fibronectin test – under the brand name FullTerm™ – can predict with 99 percent accuracy that a pregnant woman will not deliver a preterm baby in the next 14 days. That kind of knowledge can put an anxious mom-to-be at ease (particularly women who have miscarried before) and give her physician valuable information. For more information, check out www.FullTerm.net or speak with your health-care provider.

Deirdre Wilson is national senior editor at Dominion Parenting Media.