More U.S. Babies Are Being Carried to Full Term
According to a new government report, more U.S. babies are being carried to full term. The report found that 61.1 per cent of births now occur at 39 weeks of pregnancy or later, which is a major improvement. The March of Dimes, the leading non-profit organisation for pregnancy and baby health, says that when infants are born even just a few weeks too soon they have higher rates of re-hospitalisation, illness and death. They also believe that this positive change may reflect better hospital practices, and the success of programs such as its Healthy Babies are Worth the Wait® campaign aims to prevent early elective deliveries. “Preventing premature birth saves lives,” said Dr. Jennifer L Howse, president of the March of Dimes. “Even babies born a few weeks early have higher risk of death compared to babies born at full term. That’s why we advise mums, if your pregnancy is healthy, it’s best to wait until 39 weeks or more.” In the U.S., nearly half a million babies are born too soon each year. While infant massage and other natural techniques can limit the negative effects, these babies still face an increased risk of lifelong health challenges such as cerebral palsy, breathing problems, intellectual disabilities and more.
Source:
http://www.redorbit.com/news/health/1112684187/more-babies-getting-the-benefit-of-a-healthy-fullterm-pregnancy/