Premature births 'are increasing'
Saturday, 8 November 2008
There has been a dramatic rise in the number of babies being born prematurely in England, a charity has warned, reports BBC.
Tommy's baby's charity highlights NHS figures showing 8.6% of babies were born early in 2006/7, after remaining around 7% for the previous 15 years.
It said the increase equated to an extra 10,554 premature births. Babies born early are at increased risk of dying or developing serious problems. Experts said the rise was partly due to more older - and younger - mothers.
But the NHS Information Centre, which published the latest statistics, said there had been changes to the way data had been collected which might have affected the rise.
Being born prematurely - before 37 weeks - is responsible for 75% of neonatal deaths in the first month of life, and the majority of intensive care admissions. Babies are also at an increased risk of disability and illness extend throughout childhood and later life.
This is a worrying increase and it highlights the need for more research in this area Dr Rebecca Jones, Tommy's
Tommy's says there are a number of risk factors which may lead to premature birth including maternal smoking, infections in the womb, twin or triplet pregnancies.
Being a teenage or older mother is also linked to increased risk, as is being underweight.
Babies can also be delivered prematurely if doctors decide the health of the mother or baby is at risk, perhaps because the mother has developed pre-eclampsia or if the baby is abnormally small.
Tommy's baby's charity highlights NHS figures showing 8.6% of babies were born early in 2006/7, after remaining around 7% for the previous 15 years.
It said the increase equated to an extra 10,554 premature births. Babies born early are at increased risk of dying or developing serious problems. Experts said the rise was partly due to more older - and younger - mothers.
But the NHS Information Centre, which published the latest statistics, said there had been changes to the way data had been collected which might have affected the rise.
Being born prematurely - before 37 weeks - is responsible for 75% of neonatal deaths in the first month of life, and the majority of intensive care admissions. Babies are also at an increased risk of disability and illness extend throughout childhood and later life.
This is a worrying increase and it highlights the need for more research in this area Dr Rebecca Jones, Tommy's
Tommy's says there are a number of risk factors which may lead to premature birth including maternal smoking, infections in the womb, twin or triplet pregnancies.
Being a teenage or older mother is also linked to increased risk, as is being underweight.
Babies can also be delivered prematurely if doctors decide the health of the mother or baby is at risk, perhaps because the mother has developed pre-eclampsia or if the baby is abnormally small.