About Premature Births

When a woman goes into labor, the birth is classified as premature, full term or post term. A delivery that occurs before 37 weeks gestation is considered premature.

History

• According to the March of Dimes, almost 13 percent of all U.S. babies are born prematurely. Just 30 percent of premature babies are born before 34 weeks. The rate of premature birth rose by over 35 percent between 1980 and 2010. That's more than a 10 percent increase per decade.

Risks

• Up to 20 percent of mothers who have had one premature birth will have a second and if the mother has had two premature deliveries in a row, the chance of another premature birth is up to 50 percent. Medical conditions like diabetes, infection, preelampsia, substance abuse, cervical abnormalities and heart disease can contribute to a premature birth. Age and lack of prenatal care also play a role.

Multiples

• Being pregnant with multiple fetuses can increase the chance of premature birth. While multiples only account for 3 percent of births, they account for 15 percent of premature births. A mother who is carrying triplets has a higher chance of premature labor than a mother carrying twins.

Potential

• Babies born after 24 weeks gestation are usually developed enough to survive outside of the womb with medical intervention. Babies born before 21 weeks are usually not assisted due to a poor prognosis and, therefore, usually don't survive.

Considerations

• An infant who is born prematurely can encounter many challenges, including lung problems and inability to feed. Premature birth can cause life-long medical and developmental problems. The older a premature infant's gestational age when they are born, the less likely they will be to have major problems and babies born after 34 weeks gestation usually have no long term problems.