According to MSNBC, premature birth may run in families. Tammy George was a small baby even before her mother went into labor 11 weeks early. The doctors worried she was not receiving enough nutrition in the womb. In the delivery room, Tammy weighed less than a loaf of bread. In the 1970s, a premature baby that small, 1 pound, 8 ounces, had very slim chances of survival. According to new studies, genetic links suggest that there may be a link between premature births and family history.
Tammy spent two months in the hospital before being released. As an adult, she found herself giving birth via c-section to her premature baby, Hannah, after her water broke 28 weeks into pregnancy. Tammy was told her baby would have 80 percent chance of survival and possible developmental problems.
A study of 14,000 UK women found that being born prematurely increased a woman’s chance of having a premature baby by nearly 50 percent. Even having a sibling born prematurely raised the odds of having a premature child in the future.
Tammy’s newborn daughter was delivered by the same neonatologist who had treated her almost 30 years earlier. At the time of her birth, Tammy was considered extremely premature and was expected to have problems growing up. Dr. Alan Lantzy who treated both Tammy and her preemie daughter said that most babies born that small died of breathing problems but today at least 90 percent of those children survive thanks to advances in technology and treatment for premature lungs.
Tammy had other children who were all born prematurely before 36 weeks.
