In the article Causes and Methods of Preventing Premature Births the author purports that is possible to prevent premature births. While there is some valid information included, and the article is obviously well-intentioned, the article would leave the reader to believe that prematurity is common, leads to severe health conditions and can be reduced solely by lifestyle choices.
While there are certain risk factors that should be avoided, including smoking, drinking, drugging, overexertion, and excessive eating; and other health decisions that should be made, including taking prenatal vitamins, eating the healthiest foods, resting, and being active when you can, none of theses lifestyle choices will ensure that prematurity can be eradicated.
This article attempts to point out the accurate statements, dispel the misconceptions presented in the aforementioned article, and provide some relevant facts from valid medical sources to back up the information.
10 Percent is Not “Many”
The first generalization which needs to be dealt with is the author’s statement that “Many babies, despite all of our modern conveniences and advances in the medical spheres, are still being born prematurely.” Many, in any dictionary means a “large but indefinite number” (Merriam-Webster). According to the Perinatal Research Center, “10% of all babies are born “prematurely in the U.S. each year.” Ten percent does not constitute many, no matter how you do the math.
In addition, the statement that they are “still being born prematurely” implies the number has remained steady. The reality is that “despite all of our modern conveniences and advances in the medical spheres” (Causes and Methods article), according to the March of Dimes, “the number of premature in births has grown 27 percent since 1981.”
Further, a large part of the increase includes “births occurring between 34 and 36 weeks, referred to as ‘late preterm births'” or ‘near-term births’ (March of Dimes).
Prevention is Not Possible 100% of the Time
The major problem with the misconception about preterm prevention is that it is somehow the mother’s fault. Rather than spend money on research to try and determine the cause of preterm birth and premature rupture of fetal membranes (PROM), which have “yet to be positively identified and treated” (Perinatal Research Center) even organizations like the March of Dimes are concentrating their monies and efforts on the behaviors of pregnant women.
The March of Dimes is spending $75 million “to educate women about the steps they can take to prevent premature delivery.” While pregnancy health education is necessary, it is not going to completely stop premature births. Even the March of Dimes acknowledges, “Premature birth can happen to any pregnant woman, and no one knows why” (MOD).
The author of the article also states, “The best thing you can do to prevent a premature birth is to take good care of yourself before the pregnancy and that you take good care of yourself and the baby during pregnancy.
While it is true that common sense health precautions during pregnancy can help decreased the risk of preterm birth, there is no guarantee that following all of the recommended precautions will prevent a preterm birth.
According to Dr. Charles Lockwood (Yale University, Chair of Obstetrics and Gynecology), as reported by Chris Woolston for Caremark, “There’s no way to guarantee a healthy, hefty, full-term baby, says Charles Lockwood, M.D., at the Yale University School of Medicine. “Rates of premature delivery are high even among women who do everything just right.”
“Precisely what causes our high rate of premature births is not known, though placental infection, poverty and, of course, congenital malformations are the factors most frequently cited in the medical literature.” (Forces International)
Severe Health Complications Not for 32-37 Weekers
The author of the article has generalized all pre-term babies (babies born before 37 weeks) into one category and states, “If you have a baby prior to thirty seven weeks, your baby is far more likely to have severe health complications.” This is grossly inaccurate. Babies born between 32 and 37 weeks may have low birth weight, and their lungs need more time to completely develop, most will go on to live long and healthy lives without severe healthy complications.
Babies born after the 32 weeks, however “have a very high survival rate, and usually do not have long term complications” (American Preganancy Association).
The premature babies that are in the most danger for severe health complications, and morbidity are babies born prior to 24 weeks, and only half of them will survive. Also, “neonatal morbidity and mortality is concentrated among very low-birthweight and extremely premature infants, particularly those delivered prior to 30 weeks gestational age.” (Andrews WW, Goldenberg RL, Hauth JC, “Preterm Labor: Emerging Role of Genital Tract Infections,” Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Alabama, Infect Agents Dis, Dec l995).
While nobody, including expectant parents, doctors, health care providers, and insurance companies, want to continue to see prematurity increase or even remain steady, people have to understand that some things, including premature births, at least for now, are not 100% determined by a pregnant woman’s behaviors.
More research and public understanding needs to be focused on actual medical and scientific causes that go beyond the mother’s lifestyle choices. Because even when a woman does everything right, she can still besurprised with a pre-term birth.
Reference:
- Prematurity Resources page: www.preemie-l.org/resources.html
