Preemies Face Long Odds

Most of us take it for granted that we will have a healthy, full-term baby. But the reality is that the number of pre-term babies has hit an all-time high throughout the nation, with 12 percent of the U.S. babies being born prior to 37 weeks gestation, many with significant health issues or birth defects. In fact, babies born prematurely have twice the amount of major birth defects that their full-term counterparts have. And with premature births on the rise, federal officials have authorized more research and education into the causes and effects of preterm babies.

The most recent study released by the United States Centers for Disease Control and prevention's National Center on Birth Defects and Development Disabilities monitored 7 million babies born over a ten-year period lasting until 2000, accounting for 30 percent of the total births in the U.S. in an effort to gain knowledge into the relation between preemies and birth defects.

They found that 8 percent of all babies born prematurely had birth defects in comparison to only 3 percent of full term babies. Babies born from 24 weeks to 31 weeks of gestation experience five times greater odds of having birth defects. The most common problems in the research group were spina bifida and defects such as a hole in the baby's heart. Though most birth defects can't be given a root cause, some of the most common have been linked to a combination of genetic and environmental factors, such as, smoking during pregnancy and obesity before pregnancy, the study found. For more complete information on the complications facing premature babies, check out:

American Pregnancy Association (APA): a national health organization committed to promoting reproductive and pregnancy wellness.
Parents of Premature Babies: A nonprofit foundation supporting families of premature infants. Information, discussion forum, listserv, and other resources.

When thinking through the life and development of a fetus' to a baby, it is a miracle almost unimaginable, how the baby develops beginning with the first heart beat to the growth of fingers and toes. Those who have healthy babies should be very thankful. The process of a baby's development is so fragile and can be affected in so many ways. There are so many factors that affect unborn babies from the health of the mother, heredity, environmental factors, and habits of the mother such as drinking and smoking. For a mother to carry a baby to term and for the baby to be healthy it seems like a miracle, especially now with the number of premature births continuing to rise. Therefore, the U.S. continues to research causes and factors of premature births in hopes of preventing them or being able to care for babies better after birth.