Some States Have More Premature Babies Than Others

by Mary Ann Romans

preemie A new report shows that the odds of you having a premature baby depend on the state in which you live. The report was issued by the March of Dimes organization which tracked premature births and gave a report card on the disparity of premature births by state.

For example, the states with the lowest incidence of premature births tend to be up north. In Vermont, a woman is least likely to have a premature baby. Only 9 percent of all births are premature. Oregon and Connecticut also have low rates of premature births.

When you move down further south of the country, those number rise dramatically. There are a whopping 18.8 percent of premature births in Mississippi, the worst state in the union for premature birth rates. West Virginia, Alabama, Kentucky, South Carolina and Louisiana also have large percentages of premature births.

Overall in this country about one in eight babies is born premature. Prematurity can result in all sorts of conditions and medical issues, from learning disorders to death.

While prematurity is not well understood, the report does give three factors that may play a role in the difference in the premature birth rates across the states:

Lack of insurance leading to lack of prenatal care. Risks for preterm labor can offen be identity and treatment given to women who are at risk.

Smoking. There is a higher incidence of smoking in some of the states that also have the higher premature birth rates. Overall, the report estimates that 17 percent of all pregnant women smoke.

Scheduled C-sections. C-sections may purposely be scheduled ahead of full term (for example to avoid having a large baby), or they may be scheduled without a good understanding of the age of the fetus.

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Premature infants suffer from respiratory dysfunction

British research revealed that children who are born before the completion of development in the womb of the mother and placed in incubators during the first weeks of birth to complete their development at risk of chest diseases.

Research has shown that low birth weight are more susceptible to lung disease more than others.

On the other hand to link research for the first time between the speed of weight gain in children during the weeks following the birth and the weakening of the growth of the lungs.


low birth weight are more susceptible to lung disease more than others.

The study was published by the University of Sawthahampton in the journal "American Journal", specializing in respiratory diseases and critical situations.
Chest problems

The researchers measured the study and lung function in 131 healthy children between the ages of 14 weeks and looked at the same time the speed of weight gain in these children.

Some of these children weighing less than normal at birth.

The study revealed that lung function in children who were less weight if they are born and those who increased their weight rapidly during the first weeks of Uladthm was weaker from the lungs of normal children.

Said Dr. Jean Lucas, Professor, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, who led the study: "It seems that the different type of nutrition is not responsible for this effect."

The evidence suggests that the functions of the lungs of children who grow at a faster rate after the birth of this most vulnerable and increase the odds of children who completed their growth in the nursery.

And promote the study guide that "build the foundations for a healthier future may be determined from the stage of the fetus in the womb."

Said Dr. Matt Halsort of the Foundation for Asthma UK, said: "No it comes to their development quickly but the problem is that he was required to be present for the uterus certain degree of growth."

"This means that the lungs of children who were not born yet did not reach the normal size, which contributes to the lack of functions."

At the same time said study co-author John Warner: "We believe that impaired lung function in these children may have implications for the sensitivity of the device for future respiratory disease, especially shortness of breath."

The researchers plan to follow the children through their lives in the future to verify this hypothesis.

A spokesman for the British Institute of lungs: "We know since the breathing problems facing the children are not fully formed growth and young children and we are pleased to participate in this project but we believe that there is a need for further research to explore the relationship between lung disease in children and the risk of further lung problems in the future. "

Says Dr. Halsort said: "The results of this study indicate that early stage in the life essential to the growth of the lungs of the child and the impact of this on the risk of problems such as shortness of breath."


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The United States is working on reducing the incidence of premature birth