In most cases of preterm labor, it begins without a known cause. Defined as the birth of a bay that is at least 3 weeks before the scheduled delivery date, it can be a potentially dangerous situation because there are some critical developments that occur during the final weeks of a pregnancy. When a baby is born because of preterm labor, there is a greater likelihood that the child will face more severe health problems both initially and throughout their life.
Statistics on Preterm Labor
1. In 2012, 1 out of every 9 babies born in the United States was born through preterm labor.
2. African American women are about 60% more likely to have a premature baby compared to white women.
3. Premature labor occurs in about 12% of all pregnancies.
4. Only about 50% of the children born prior to 24 weeks will survive and the other 50% may die or have permanent problems.
5. Preterm-related causes of death together accounted for 35% of all infant deaths in 2010.
6. Preterm birth costs the U.S. health care system more than $26 billion in 2005.
7. Low or high maternal age is directly associated with preterm labor.
8. Expecting mothers who are living at or below the poverty line also have a higher risk of having preterm labor occur.
9. The health conditions of the mother are also a factor: infections, having high blood pressure, or having a high fever during a pregnancy can all create preterm labor.
10. Carrying multiples makes preterm labor more likely than carrying the children to full term.
11. Tobacco, alcohol, and substance abuse all contribute to preterm labor development.
12. From 32 weeks onwards, most babies are able to survive with the help of medical technology.
13. 10% premature babies will develop a permanent disability such as lung disease, cerebral palsy, blindness or deafness.
14. Only 1 in 5 children born at the 26 week mark will have no discernible disability by the age of 6.
15. In England and Wales, 10% of preterm births were to mothers aged 40 and over, compared to 6.8% in mothers aged 20-24.
16. Infant mortality rates for preterm birth tends to be higher for single births than for multiple births.
17. 15 million babies are born preterm every year and this number is rising.
18. More than 1 million children die each year due to the complications of preterm birth.
19. 1 out of every 4 preterm births are planned C-sections because the mother might have severe medical problems that need to be addressed or because the baby is not developing properly.
20. 20% of cases are due to premature rupture of the membranes.
21. In 4 out of 10 preterm labor cases, there is not an exact cause that is known.
22. An abnormally shaped uterus increases the risk of giving birth early by 19%.
Effect of Having a Preterm Baby
Preterm babies that are born very early make up a small fraction of the overall birth rate, but they account for the largest proportion of infant deaths that are on record. Infants die from problems that are related to pre-term labor more often than any other single, specific cause. The children that do survive their initial first days often need special care over their first months and may need to spend several weeks in neonatal care. Even then, a lifetime of health problems, developmental issues, and self-care reliance may be in place.
Preterm labor can happen to any woman during any pregnancy. Even if a mother works to do everything right, it can still happen. There are certain risks that may lead to the chances of a preterm labor occurring, such as having a previous child delivered before the 37 week mark. There are some racial demographics that deliver preterm more than others as well and there is no real explanation for this.
As the statistics will show, an early delivery and preterm labor should be the last considered result and should be encouraged only if there is a medical reason to do so. Otherwise the best choice is to let the baby come when the baby wants to come, whether that’s at 36 weeks or 41 weeks.
Having Preterm Labor
There are some things that mothers can effectively plan for with their pregnancy. Unfortunately preterm labor is not one of those things. It’s something that seems to happen spontaneously, no matter how much bedrest a woman may get during her pregnancy.
There are, however, certain lifestyle choices that can reduce the risks of having a preterm labor event happen. One of the most critical choices a mother can make is to stop smoking. The stimulation of the nicotine has a direct, negative effect on the pregnancy. Not only can preterm labor occur, but the child may be born with hyperactivity issues, birth defects, and other health problems that could have been 100% prevented. Eliminating alcohol, other illicit drugs, and maintaining a healthy diet that limits chemical exposure while taking folic acid can all help to reduce the risks of preterm labor as well.
Just because a child is born prematurely doesn’t guarantee a lifetime of difficulty. 1 in 5 kids born prematurely have no issues whatsoever. More than 30% of kids only have a very mild disability, such as having vision problems or slightly lower than average IQ scores during the adolescent years. Although the risks of a permanent disability are higher with preterm labor, the odds are still in the child’s favor.
After the 24th week of gestation, a child’s chances of being born without difficulty, even while premature, increases by 10%. That’s why holding onto a pregnancy for as long as possible will benefit the child and the mother. Thanks to modern medicine, this can happen more often, but with 10% of pregnancies being preterm-related, the statistics show that we still have a lot of work to do.