News tagged with 'Premature Birth'

More evidence is coming in that even a late preterm birth can carry a multitude of risks for the development of a newborn. The last few weeks in the womb are crucial for brain. lung and liver development. Many preterm births are linked to c-sections.

The U.S. has not improved its infant mortality ranking since 2000, partially due to an increase in premature births.  As it stands now, about 28,000 infants die in the U.S. before their first birthday every year making it 29th in the world in infant mortality, lagging behind other developed nations.

A new study found, magnesium sulfate, given to mothers at risk of preterm delivery, cut the rate of cerebral palsy in their babies by nearly half. Cerebral palsy is a disorder that affects 1 or 2 of every 1,000 infants.

A new study by Canadian researchers suggests affluent women that live near highways are more likely to deliver a pre-term, low-birth-weight or small baby. The study found disproportionately high associations between mothers living close to a highway and birth complications among affluent mothers.

The Kids Count annual report finds the number of low birth weight infants is rising due to prematurity and poverty. The southern U.S. is particularly hard hit.