Title: Newborn health: Preterm babies
Headings: Newborn health: Preterm babies
Newborn health: Preterm babies
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Content: We do not fully understand the causes of preterm births. There are several factors that may put a pregnant woman at higher risk of a preterm birth, including a previous preterm birth, multiple pregnancies such as twins, triplets, etc, some chronic medical conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes and infections. Pregnancy in adolescence is a major risk factor for preterm birth. Can a pregnant woman’s lifestyle put her at risk of a preterm birth? Women who smoke cigarettes, drink alcohol or take other recreational drugs are at a higher risk of having preterm babies. Stress from any cause is also known to increase a woman’s risk of having preterm birth. How many preterm babies could be saved? Around 1 million preterm babies die each year. Those babies who survive can face lifelong physical, neurological or learning disabilities, often at great cost to families and society. An estimated three-quarters of these preterm babies could survive if they had access to proven and often inexpensive care – like warmth, breastfeeding support, and basic care for infections and breathing difficulties.