They Say: Even Late Preemies at Higher Risk
While it’s long been known that premature babies face a much higher incidence of cerebral palsy and other medical problems, most of the infants thought to be at risk were those born before 34 weeks — the tiny babies, notably premature, whose entire bodies can fit into the palm of their father’s hands. But new research suggests that even bigger, healthier-seeming babies, when born before term, are much more likely to fall victim to the health problems of prematurity. And at a time when more and more women are giving birth early due to inductions or scheduled C-sections, that risk needs to be better communicated, according to the doctors who authored the study.
The study, which examined the circumstances of more than 140,000 babies born at 30 weeks or later, concluded that babies born from 34 to 36 weeks’ gestation, although often appearing as big and healthy as full-term newborns, were three times more likely to have cerebral palsy than babies born at 37 weeks, and up to 25% more likely to face mental retardation and other developmental delays. Because the babies in the study have not yet entered elementary school, the authors point out, it’s too early to know whether other learning-based problems will be detected.
While overall rates of prematurity are fairly steady, the number of babies born from 34-36 weeks is growing, and currently represents one in 11 births in the US. The study did not look into the reasons for the late preterm births, and some surely were medically indicated (pre-eclampsia, for
instance, pretty much demands that a baby be born early, to save both
lives).According to the study’s authors, however, some of those “late preterm” births were due to early inductions or C-sections that were not medically necessary (remember that the next time a Hollywood starlet says she’s due “sometime in the fall” and has a six-pounder).
Related:
Pre-term Elective C-Sections Are Dangerous: So Why Insure Them?
More by this author:
Is This Baby Obese? Aussie Mom Says No
Baby Nearly Starves to Death, Diluted Formula to Blame
Grandmother
Maybe stars are giving birth early on purpose, but I certainly don’t think they represent any significant portion of the population.
My OB told me that this idea that women in general were deciding to give birth early was way overstated in the media. The main reason for more late preemies is the increase in multiple births due to assisted reproduction. Also, with advanced ultrasound technology, they can detect more than ever before. Sometimes they find something that is bothersome that will make them decide to take the baby out early, but this is based on the doctor’s advice.
Like Catherine Zeta-Jones. Both of her babies were barely six pounds and she smoked the whole time she was pregnant. I have heard a lot of stars think that you get super big the last month so they want to skip it to avoid the weight gain and stretch marks.