Staying pregnant to full term, or 39-40 weeks, is one of the best ways to give babies the time they need to grow. Preterm birth—or delivery before 37 weeks of pregnancy—can prevent growth and development from happening inside a baby's body during the final weeks of pregnancy.1,2
Read on to learn about preterm birth, risk factors for preterm birth, and the important growth and development that occurs inside the womb.
Read on to learn about preterm birth, risk factors for preterm birth, and the important growth and development that occurs inside the womb.
In The News
- 2020 Premature Birth Report Cards March of Dimes
- Association Between Moderate and Late Preterm Birth and Neurodevelopment and Social-Emotional Development at Age 2 Years JAMA Pediatrics
- Births: Final Data for 2016 National Center for Health Statistics
What is Preterm Birth?
Preterm birth is the delivery of a baby less than 37 weeks of pregnancy.2 The last weeks of pregnancy are critical to a baby's growth and development. Click below to understand the definitions week by week.Click labels below to learn definitions.
Preterm birth is more common than you may think. In the United States, approximately 400,000 babies are born too early—or preterm—each year.6 More than 70% of all preterm births in the United States are late preterm births, a time in which important developments are still happening.7
Approximately 1 in 10 babies in the United States is born premature6
Babies Continue Important Development,
Even in those Final Weeks of Pregnancy
Explore inside the womb through this interactive 360° video, and discover the growth you can’t see and what a baby has to gain by reaching full term.
Important developments occur during the last weeks of pregnancy. Babies need every week inside the womb, as the brain, lungs, and liver are among the last organs to develop. Regardless of birth weight, babies born early are also more likely to be re-hospitalized.8 That's why getting to full term is important.
Around week 35, the brain is only 2/3 the size of a full term baby's.8
Hearing is not fully developed until full term.9
A baby's liver is not mature enough to prevent jaundice until full term.8,10
A baby may not have enough body fat to keep temperature steady until week 37.8,10
Breathing, sucking and swallowing reflexes are not ready until 34 weeks or later. A preterm birth may cause feeding and nutrition problems.8,10
Lungs continue to develop until the end of pregnancy, and babies may have trouble breathing if born early.8
Compared to term infants, late preterm infants were:8
Risk Factors
It's important to know and understand the risk factors for preterm birth. Preterm birth is often unexpected. Some women may have an early delivery due to a medical situation, and sometimes one may have a greater chance of preterm birth due to known risk factors.1,2
Leading Risk Factors
- Prior preterm birth (unexpectedly delivered a baby before 37 weeks in the past)
- Pregnant with twins, triplets, or other multiples
- Problems with uterus or cervix
- African-American heritage
Other Risk Factors
- High blood pressure, stress, diabetes, or being overweight or underweight
- Smoking, drinking alcohol, or using drugs
- Short time between pregnancies
- Certain infections during pregnancy
Signs & Symptoms of
Preterm Labor
Pregnant women should be familiar with the signs of preterm labor.12 If any signs or symptoms of preterm labor occur before a baby's due date, contact a healthcare provider as soon as possible.
Contractions, or tightening of the belly muscles, every ten minutes or less
Belly cramps with or without diarrhea
Low, dull backache
Cramps resembling menstrual cramps
Feeling of pressure in the pelvic area
A change in vaginal discharge
A Message from Moms to Moms
Hear how other moms learned about their preterm risk through these stories and video.
