Premature Birth Rate in U.S. Soars

A new study shows that the number of premature babies born in the United States is growing at an alarming rate – a problem that has many in the medical community concerned.

Babies born even a few weeks early face greater risk of disabilities including cerebral palsy, mental retardation, and hearing and vision problems. According to the recent study, one in every eight babies is born prematurely. Even worse, experts are unsure as to why.

The report stated that the majority of premature babies are white. And even though fertility treatments are partly responsible for the increase in early births, most premature babies are not part of a multiple pregnancy.

Experts recommend limited use of fertility drugs that stimulate multiple gestation pregnancies. Also recommended is single, as opposed to multiple, embryo transfers in in vitro procedures.

Other cerebral palsy risk factors identified by the report include prior preterm births and giving birth prior to age 16 or after age 35. A preterm birth is one that occurs at 37 weeks or earlier compared with a full-term pregnancy that goes from 38 to 42 weeks.

“This is a growing problem that results in significant consequences for families and society as a whole,” said pediatrician Dr. Richard Behrman, who chaired the committee releasing the report.

The National Academy of Science’s Institute of Medicine said that an estimated $26 billion is spent annually caring for infants born prematurely. Approximately 500,000 babies are born early every year – 30 percent increase since 1981.

Was your child born prematurely or suffer a birth injury and develop cerebral palsy? Contact a cerebral palsy lawyer who can help determine if you are entitled to receive financial compensation to help cover the cost of therapy.