Preterm Delivery Risk Calculator by Mother's Age

Calculate your risk of having a preterm delivery/premature birth based on your age. ... read more »

Effects of Carbon Monoxide on Cytokine Production

Researchers from various hospitals in New York recently published a report in the American Journal of Reproductive Immunology claiming carbon monoxide may reduce inflammation and thus reduce the impact of the infection. ... read more »

Preterm-Born Mothers More Prone to Preterm Babies

A study revealed that mothers who were born prematurely are at increased risk of having at least one child born prematurely, too. ... read more »

Preterm Birth Rate at Record Low

The March of Dimes issues an annual 'report card' to each state and to the US as a nation. The report cards reveal which well-baby strategies areworking and where improvement is needed. ... read more »

Hospitals Effectively Reducing Elective C-Sections

In recent years C-section rates have increased significantly. Many of the C-sections performed are elective and some are performed during the 37th and 38th week of gestation. ... read more »

The Effects of Premature Labor on Your Baby

Although most babies born a few weeks early do well with no health consequences, the earlier they are born, the more health problems they will have. Learn how premature labor may affect your baby. ... read more »

Bed Rest During Pregnancy

There is no solid scientific evidence that bed rest during pregnancy works in most cases, and in some cases it may even hurt. ... read more »

Cervical Insufficiency

Cervical insufficiency is the premature widening and thinning of the cervix. If left untreated, cervical insufficiency can lead to premature birth and miscarriage. ... read more »

Full-term Pregnancy Gets New Definition

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine issued a joint Committee Opinion in October 2013 that includes some very precise terminology for the last stages of pregnancy. ... read more »

Preterm Birth Survival and Disability Data

When a preterm delivery is expected, parental counseling should be based on accurate data regarding survival rates and the likelihood of major disability among survivors at the given gestational age. ... read more »

Quit Smoking in Pregnancy to Reduce Risk of Premature Birth

A new study shows that quitting will decrease your risk of giving birth prematurely, even if you’re already pregnant when you stop. ... read more »

Being Born Premature Can Affect Your Love Life, Says Study

Being born prematurely can affect your love life, specifically your partner and sexual relationships. The analysis, which looked at research involving up to 4.4 million participants, found that adults who were born preterm or with low birth weight were less likely to find love or become parents. ... read more »

Premature Labor Symptoms and Signs - When To Call The Doctor

Premature labor and delivery is the #1 reason for newborn death. You should call the doctor or go to the hospital if you have any of these symptoms or signs. ... read more »

Rate of Premature Births Dropping, But Still Too High

The March of Dimes has released a report revealing the rate of premature births are on the decline, but experts still believe the rate is too high. ... read more »

New Drug Approved to Reduce Premature Birth

Makena, a new drug approved by the Food and Drug Administration in the United States, may help reduce the risk of premature birth in women who are at higher risk of entering pre-term labor. ... read more »

Hypertension in Pregnancy May be Linked to Lead Exposure

Researchers have found a connection between lead exposure and hypertension in pregnancy. Even tiny amounts of lead can cause a significant increase in pregnancy blood pressure. ... read more »

Does Alcohol-Free Mouth Wash Reduce Risk of Preterm Birth?

Researchers presented a study at the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine yearly meet-up, The Pregnancy Meeting, regarding the possible benefits of using alcohol-free mouthwash to reduce preterm labor. ... read more »

Changes in Vaginal pH May Indicate Premature Delivery

The pH of the vagina may be a good indicator of complications to come. During a model project spanning from 2004 to 2006, pregnant patients were asked to use test gloves to measure the pH of the vagina twice a week for 20 weeks. ... read more »

There is a New HeRO for Premature Infants

J. Randall Moorman, a cardiologist from the University of Virginia co-invented the HeRO system to reduce the number of fatalities in the premature population. ... read more »

Extra Calcium Reduces Hypertension: Nothing More

Pregnant women taking increased amounts of calcium during pregnancy may reduce the risk of hypertension, but no other positive benefits are proven, according to a new study. ... read more »

Marijuana Use Doubles Risk of Premature Birth

Researchers at the University of Adelaide have completed an international study into possible risk factors for premature birth. Premature or preterm birth is considered one of the most avoidable pregnancy complications ' in some cases. ... read more »

Spring Conception + Flu = Premature Delivery?

A recent Princeton University study does demonstrate a connectionbetween spring conception and premature delivery. Seems the link is themother's bout with the flu during the latter stages of pregnancy. ... read more »

Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP)

Retinopathy of prematurity, called ROP in the medical community, affects premature infants and newborns. The disease can be mild or severe. When first diagnosed in the 1940s, the condition was called retrolental fibroplasia. ... read more »

Neonatal Complications: What is Very Low Birth Weight?

A subset of the low birth weight group includes infants born weighing less than 1,500 grams or 3.3 lbs. Infants born weighing less than 3.3 lbs are considered very low birth weight. ... read more »

Music, Mom’s Voice Help Preemies Eat Better

A recent study has found that parents can help their premature baby significantly. The research team used music and the mother's voice to encourage preemies to feed themselves effectively in the NICU. ... read more »

NICU Volunteer “Cuddlers” Embrace Labor of Love

For some very lucky preemies, NICU volunteer 'cuddlers' come to the rescue. These volunteers are trained to hold and comfort NICU babies when parents and nurses can't be there. ... read more »

Surprise Finding: Preemies Face COPD in Mid-20s

Adults born prematurely (ex-preterms) and diagnosed with BPD are at increased for developing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). ... read more »

Preeclampsia Blood Treatment Safely Extends Pregnancy 2 Weeks

Between 5% and 8% of all babies born in the US have mothers who developed preeclampsia during pregnancy. It is one of the most common complications of pregnancy and its consequences can be tragic. ... read more »

Collagen Vascular Disease and Pregnancy

Some of the better known collagen vascular diseases include ankylosing spondylitis, lupus, psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, scleroderma, psoriatic arthritis, and more. ... read more »

Text4Baby Service Helps New Moms

Text4Baby is a text service that sends health messages about pregnancy and maternal health to a cell phone. The service also connects women with resources for further information. ... read more »

Premature Babies Soothed by Lullabies

A new study published in the journal Pediatrics claims lullabies are more than soothing songs to lure baby to sleep. Premature infants treated in NICUs (neonatal intensive care units) showed improvements in health associated with lullabies. ... read more »

Exposure to Phthalates Increases Risk for Preterm Births

There has been growing concern about the dangers of exposure to thechemical phthalate, and now a new study shows an association between awoman's exposure to phthalate and preterm birth. ... read more »

Bacteria May Result in Preterm Birth

Bacteria could cause premature births, according to a new study.Preterm births occur when a pregnant woman's water breaks early. ... read more »

Assisted Conception Increases Risk for Birth Problems

A new study suggests babies born as the result of assisted reproduction are at least twice as likely to suffer serious complications as those born after spontaneous conception. ... read more »

Elective Preterm Delivery Increases Risk for Complications

Choosing to deliver a baby early may increase the risk for complications, according to a new study. ... read more »

Bacteria Thins Placental Membranes, Triggers Premature Birth

Researchers have discovered a connection between certain bacteria, thinning membranes of the placental sac, and premature birth. ... read more »

Growth and Development Delays Continues After Early Birth

Premature birth is associated with increased risk of developmental delays and death. Researchers in Malawi have concluded that these delays affect premature infants well into the second year of life. ... read more »

Infant Mortality Rates Affected by Advanced Medical Care

One of the leading causes of neonatal and infant mortality is prematurity and/or low birth weight. Advances in medical care mean fewer deaths, but more reports of live births, resulting in a leveling off of mortality rates. ... read more »

Sleep Disorders May be Affecting Fetal Health

Sleep has proven health benefits and according to researchers at the University of Sydney could be beneficial for women with preeclampsia. The condition requires immediate medical attention and often leads to premature delivery and low birth weight. ... read more »

Myo-Inositol Supplements to Prevent Gestational Diabetes

Pregnant women with a family history of type 2 diabetes are at increased risk of developing gestational diabetes. ... read more »

Fetal Growth Altered by Coffee

The coffee debate is heating up in the pregnancy community. According to a new study, women who consume the recommended amount of caffeine per day (200 mg) via coffee are more likely to give birth to infants that are small for gestational age. ... read more »

Intubating Neonates May Cause Tooth Defects

Researchers from the Universidade Federal do Parana have reported cases of tooth defects in neonates intubated soon after birth. All infants included in the study were intubated in the hospital after preterm delivery - prior to the 35th week gestation. ... read more »

Does Vitamin C Decrease Preterm Birth Risk?

Researchers from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill recently published a study in the American Journal of Perinatology on the impact of vitamin C supplementation on preterm birth rates. ... read more »

Impact of LISA on Extremely Premature Infants

LISA or less invasive surfactant administration is a method of administering life-saving surfactant to extremely premature lungs. Surfactant is a substance that prevents the alveoli in the lungs from collapsing when premature infants breathe out. ... read more »

Medicaid, Prenatal Care and Health Reform

Information on the number of births financed by the Medicaid system was not collected or accurately represented until 2008, when Anne Markus, a professor at George Washington University, decided to change that practice. ... read more »

What is a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)?

NICU is the abbreviation for the neonatal intensive care unit of a hospital. Infants born premature or in need of advanced medical care may be admitted to the NICU for observation and treatment. ... read more »

Newborns Affected by Severe Illness Linked to Parasite

Toxoplasmosis is a cat parasite that can infect a pregnant woman if the woman touches cat waste, which is why pregnant women are told not to change cat litter boxes while pregnant. ... read more »

Premature Births with Stress-Related Premature Aging of Placenta

Premature births are the subject of many scientific studies, including a recent one that links stress-related premature aging of the placenta to premature rupture of the placental membranes. ... read more »

Bariatric Surgery Risk: Preterm and Low Birth Weight Babies

Women who have had bariatric surgery have higher risks for early delivery during pregnancy and having babies who were small for their gestational age, according to a new study published in BMJ. ... read more »

Streptococcus Bacteria and Premature Births

Pediatric researchers at the San Diego School of Medicine in California have discovered a link between a particular strain of the Streptococcus bacteria and premature births. ... read more »

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