REPORT: TRENDS IN LATE PRETERM BIRTHS

REPORT:  TRENDS IN LATE PRETERM BIRTHS

According to a recent report from the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), more than 900 “late preterm” births occur every day in the US, with more than 333, 461 occurring each year.

The percentage of babies born preterm in the US has increased by more than 20 percent between 1990 and 2006, with most of these babies born during the later preterm period (34 to 36 weeks of gestation).

 The NCHS report, “Born a Bit Too Early:  Recent Trends in Late Preterm Births” also shows an increase in the number of late preterm births resulting from induced labor or cesarean delivery.

The "induction seduction" is something that happens every day in our country. Women think that their babies should be born on or before, their due dates. They do not understand that a "due date" is an estimate, not a definitive date. Every woman and every baby are unique. In reality,  a birth can normally take place either two weeks before or after a "due date" and unless there are very clearly defined medical reasons why a medical induction should take place ( rare ) than women should allow labor to begin on it's own. Otherwise, women risk having a baby that is born too early with all of the problems that brings, not to mention the very real risks of major abdominal surgery for themselves.

To access the report online, go to http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db24.htm.