Tag Archives: premature babies

More than half a million babies births are considered preterm each year. Preterm means that birth occurs before the 37th week of pregnancy. This is a serious health risk for the baby which costs more than $26 billion in the United States each year. Preterm birth is also the leading cause of death in newborns and the babies who survive a preterm birth often experience health challenges throughout their lives including learning disabilities, cerebral palsy and other developmental and intellectual disabilities. A full term pregnancy is considered 42 weeks, and many of the important organs such as the brain and lungs are not fully developed before 37 weeks.  Physicians and expectant mothers should discuss the risks of preterm birth and how to prevent it early in the pregnancy. Chronic conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure can cause preterm births, yet when controlled and managed throughout pregnancy can allow…
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