Preterm birth is the greatest contributor to infant death and is the leading cause of long term neurological disabilities in children. And while approximately 1 in 10 babies in the U.S. are born prematurely, many pregnant women think this will never happen to them.
Preterm birth is defined as delivering between 20 and 37 weeks of pregnancy. This can lead to devastating consequences for a baby and can have significant financial and emotional impacts on the baby's parents. A child born before 37 weeks can suffer from short and long-term health issues, including physical, developmental, and behavioral problems.
Additionally, labor and delivery costs, extended stays in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), and frequent doctor visits can have tremendous financial implications to families and the healthcare system. It is estimated that preterm birth costs the U.S. healthcare system more than $26 billion dollars.
Women most likely to deliver prematurely are those who have had a previous preterm birth. However, 40 percent of women who deliver prematurely are first time moms.
In an effort to identify patients at risk for preterm birth, doctors look to specific group risk factors that may result in preterm birth. These risk factors include: shortened cervical length, short interval between pregnancies, infection, history of surgery on the cervix, carrying multiples (twins, triplets, etc.), and lifestyle factors such as poor nutrition, being underweight, alcohol or drug use or smoking. Even though one or more of these group risk factors will place a woman at higher risk of a preterm birth, 50 percent of women who go on to have a preterm birth had no known risk factors.
A new diagnostic test, called the PreTRM test, is the first and only available test that doctors can now use to help determine a woman's individualized risk of delivering prematurely. The PreTRM test is a prenatal blood test taken during the 19th or 20th week of pregnancy. This clinically validated test measures proteins in the blood that have been shown to be highly predictive of preterm birth.
Families expecting a child should understand the risks, signs and symptoms of preterm labor and birth. Common symptoms of preterm labor include frequent contractions, vaginal bleeding or unusual discharge, pelvic pressure and cramping. Every day that a baby continues to grow and develop in gestation can have a meaningful impact on the baby's health.
