Premature birth a serious issue in Alabama

Their voices may be faint, but what they’re saying speaks volumes about the growing problem of premature births in Alabama.

The state’s pre-term birth rate is more than twice the Healthy People 2010 objective of 7.6 percent, and it increased by almost 24 percent
between 1995 and 2005, according to a report by the March of Dimes.

The national non-profit health organization is working to raise public awareness about premature births, especially during November, which is Prematurity Awareness Month.

“Nationwide, one out of eight babies is born premature,” said Robin Allison Collins, program director for the Alabama March of Dimes. “One out of every six babies born in Alabama is born premature.”

Alabama ranks near the bottom of the March of Dimes 2008 premature birth report card, Collins said.

Obesity, hypertension, smoking and lack of health insurance contribute to the rising premature birth rates.

Another factor is women who opt for late pre-term births, either by C-section or induced labor.

“If there is a medical reason a woman needs to opt for a C-section or induced labor, that’s understandable but if there isn’t a reason to do so, you shouldn’t,” Collins said. “Mothers should try to go the distance when it comes to carrying a baby to full term.”

Smoking during pregnancy poses another completely controllable variable in reducing the premature birth rate.

“Every time a woman smokes a cigarette during pregnancy, the baby’s umbilical cord constricts, making it more difficult for it to breath,” Collins said.

Thirty-eight to 40 weeks is considered a full-term pregnancy. Babies born prematurely often have medical issues involving underdeveloped respiratory and digestive systems, she said.

“Advances in neonatology are allowing doctors to do a great job of saving premature babies, but they’re dealing with disabilities they probably wouldn’t, had they been carried to full term,” Collins said.

She is encouraging people to sign the 2008 March of Dimes petition on the organization’s Web site. It asks Congress to increase funding for related research.

“There are groups that raise awareness about medical conditions like Alzheimer’s disease and cancer, and, while those are both very important, there’s often an adult voice to speak for their causes,” Collins said. “We hope to be the voice for babies who do not yet have one.”