Premature births, also known as preterm births, are a significant health concern, occurring in over 12 percent of all pregnancies in the United States, according to the March of Dimes. A birth is considered premature when it occurs before the thirty-seventh week of pregnancy, three weeks or more before the baby's due date.
Causes
Some premature births result from a planned Caesarian section performed before the thirty-seventh week of pregnancy due to health problems in the mother or baby that would put either or both of them at higher risk if the pregnancy were allowed to continue. Most premature births, however, are the result of premature labor, when the mother spontaneously goes into labor before her baby is full term.
Risk Factors
While there is no definitive cause that makes a woman go into premature labor and give birth too early, there are some risk factors that up the chances of premature birth. A premature birth in a previous pregnancy, a multiple pregnancy and chronic health problems in the mother are all known risk factors. Problems with the placenta, cervix or uterus may also result in premature birth. Infections during pregnancy, such as bacterial vaginosis, and maternal behavior such as cigarette smoking, drug use, poor nutrition or drinking alcohol, also raise the risk.
Concerns
Premature babies are at a risk of many health complications, both immediately after birth and throughout the rest of their lives. These can include physical problems such as respiratory issues, learning disabilities and developmental delays. Some babies born prematurely die or develop severe health complications, especially when the premature birth takes place before 26 weeks of gestation.
Social Costs
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), premature births resulted in a cost of over $26.2 billion in the United States in 2005. This figure included lost productivity, medical costs and educational costs. The emotional toll on families who experience a premature birth is detrimental in terms of lost work productivity of the parents, possible behavioral or school problems in siblings worried about the health of the baby and general emotional stress on extended family members. Babies born prematurely have medical costs that are 10 times higher than their normal gestation counterparts in their first year of life. Premature birth also ups the risk of lifelong complications, including health problems and developmental delays that cost governments and society throughout the life of the child.
Prevention
Because of the high risk of medical and developmental problems inherent in premature birth, prevention is a major concern. Proper prenatal care throughout a pregnancy may help avoid preterm birth, since it allows for spotting health issues that may contribute to preterm labor. For pregnant women who have previously had a premature birth, administration of progesterone during the pregnancy may help prevent another preterm baby. Bed rest for high-risk mothers is also sometimes recommended.
