November is Prematurity Awareness Month
November is Prematurity Awareness Month. Here are a few quick facts.
In 2019, 1 in 10 babies were born too early in the United States.1
The preterm birth rate rose for the fifth year in a row in 2019. Some signs and symptoms of preterm labor include1:
- Contractions
- Changes in vaginal discharge
- Pelvic pressure
- Low, dull backache
- Additional cramps with or without diarrhea
In 2018, the fertility rate was highest for Hispanic women (65.9), followed by non-Hispanic black (62.0) and non-Hispanic white (56.3) women.2
In 2018, preterm birth and low birth weight accounted for about 17% of infant deaths (deaths before 1 year of age). Babies who survive may have3:
- Breathing problems
- Feeding difficulties
- Cerebral palsy
- Developmental delays
- Vision problems
- Hearing problems
__
References
- Premature Birth. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Division of Reproductive Health, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. Reviewed October 30, 2020. Accessed November 2, 2020.
- Martin J, Hamilton, BE, Osterman M. National Center for Health Statistics. Data Brief No. 346, July 2019. Accessed November 2, 2020.
- Preterm Birth. Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Division of Reproductive Health, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. Reviewed October 30, 2020. Accessed November 2, 2020.
Study reports reduced maternal breastfeeding in late preterm infants
March 12th 2025A recent study reveals significantly lower initiation and continuation rates of Mother’s own milk feeding among late preterm infants compared to other gestational age groups, highlighting a need for targeted support.
Read More
S4E1: New RNA platform can predict pregnancy complications
February 11th 2022In this episode of Pap Talk, Contemporary OB/GYN® sat down with Maneesh Jain, CEO of Mirvie, and Michal Elovitz, MD, chief medical advisor at Mirvie, a new RNA platform that is able to predict pregnancy complications by revealing the biology of each pregnancy. They discussed recently published data regarding the platform's ability to predict preeclampsia and preterm birth.
Listen
