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Born Too Soon: The Continuing Challenge of Preterm Labor and Birth in the United States
Author(s) -
Reedy Nancy Jo
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
journal of midwifery and women's health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.543
H-Index - 62
eISSN - 1542-2011
pISSN - 1526-9523
DOI - 10.1016/j.jmwh.2007.02.022
Subject(s) - medicine , preterm labor , obstetrics , pregnancy , incidence (geometry) , gestation , preterm labour , premature birth , intervention (counseling) , health care , pediatrics , nursing , genetics , physics , optics , economics , biology , economic growth
Prematurity is the single greatest cause of morbidity and mortality in obstetrics. Families, health care services, and education systems experience the impact of prematurity for the lifetime of the preterm‐born child. Health care providers have tried to lower the preterm birth rate with prevention both before and during pregnancy and intervention for symptomatic women. The inability of the health care system to significantly decrease the incidence of preterm birth continues to be a challenge. To further complicate the situation, new data shows that infants born between 34 and 37 weeks' gestation who were thought to have minimal long‐term effects of preterm birth may be more at risk than previously appreciated. This article reviews evidence‐based risk identification, prevention, and management of women experiencing preterm labor and birth.