Title: Premature Infant: Causes, Complications, and More
Headings: Premature Infant
Premature Infant
Overview
Causes of premature birth
Potential health problems in premature infants
Treating a premature infant
Long-term outlook for premature infants
Preventing premature birth

Content: They may also have long-term health issues, such as learning disabilities or physical disabilities. In the past, premature birth was the major cause of infant death in the United States. Today, the quality of care for newborns has improved, as have the survival rates of premature babies. Yet premature birth is still the top cause of infant death worldwide, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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. It’s also a leading cause of long-term nervous system disorders in children. Causes of premature birth
The cause of a premature birth often can’t be identified. However, certain factors are known to increase a woman’s risk of going into labor early. A pregnant woman with any of the following conditions is more likely to have a premature birth: diabetes
heart disease
kidney disease
high blood pressure
Pregnancy-related factors associated with premature birth include: poor nutrition before and during pregnancy
smoking, using illegal drugs, or drinking too much alcohol during pregnancy
certain infections, such as urinary tract and amniotic membrane infections
premature birth in a previous pregnancy
an abnormal uterus
a weakened cervix opening early
Pregnant women also have an increased chance of delivering early if they are younger than 17 or older than 35.