The number of premature births has been escalating steadily and alarmingly over the past two decades. One out of eight babies is born prematurely in the United States. Pre-term delivery can happen to any pregnant woman

In the U.S today more than 1,400 babies (1 in 8) will be born prematurely. Many will be too small and too sick to go home. Instead, they face weeks or even months in a neonatal intensive care unit. These babies face an increased risk of serious medical complications and death. Most, however, will eventually go home.

What does the future hold for these babies? Many survivors grow up healthy; others aren’t so lucky. Even the most sophisticated care cannot always spare a premature baby from disabilities such as cerebral palsy, mental disability and learning problems, chronic lung disease, and vision and hearing problems.

Although doctors and nurses have made tremendous advances in caring for babies born too soon and too small, we need to find out how to prevent pre-term birth from happening in the first place. Despite decades of research, scientists have not yet developed effective ways to help prevent premature delivery.

Pre-term labor and delivery can happen to any pregnant woman. But it happens more often to some women than to others. Researchers continue to study pre-term labor and birth. They have identified some risk factors, but still cannot predict which women will give birth too early. Having a risk factor does not mean a woman will have pre-term labor or pre-term birth.

Three groups of women are at greatest risk of pre-term labor and birth:

• Women who have had a previous pre-term birth
• Women who are pregnant with twins, triplets or more
• Women with certain uterine or cervical abnormalities

If a woman has any of these three risk factors, it’s especially important for her to know the signs and symptoms of premature labor and what to do if they occur.

If you are expecting a baby, please talk with your physician about your personal risk for pre-term birth.

Jan Gray, RN is the manager of the family-centered maternity unit at Bonner General Hospital. Statistics in this article were provided courtesy of the March of Dimes.