The United States is seeing an uptick in the number of preterm births, as per the latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A report assessing single births between 2014 and 2022 has found a 12% increase in preterm births and a steep 20% rise in early-term births occurring between 37 to 38 weeks. In the year 2022, preterm births made up just under 9% of all births nationwide.
Valley OB-GYN Greg Marchand provided insight on the matter, indicating that delayed motherhood might partially be driving the increase. "There’s a lot of risks to babies that are delivered early so it’s certainly something you don’t want to do if you don’t have to. Babies who are delivered early are going to be at higher risk of respiratory problems, particularly the lungs not being developed," Marchand told AZFamily. He went on to explain that health issues such as preeclampsia and uncontrolled diabetes might lead to the need to intentionally deliver a baby early to potentially save lives.
The CDC's findings highlight the persistent racial and ethnic disparities in preterm birthrates. Black and Hispanic women have been reported to have higher rates of preterm births compared with white women. A separate CDC report states that in 2022, the preterm birth rate among African-American women was around 50 percent higher than the rate among white or Hispanic women.
Preterm birth carries significant risks that can extend well beyond infancy, including potential respiratory and feeding difficulties, along with increased chances of developmental delays and disabilities such as cerebral palsy. According to Marchand, the rise in preterm births might also be linked to the increased utilization of reproductive technologies like IVF or IUI. "For example, if a mother is starting to succumb to preeclampsia, or if the diabetes is so uncontrolled, that we're getting worried about a stillbirth, you may need to induce that woman to quickly get the baby out even if it is a little preterm because the risk is just too large to keep that baby inside," he explained to AZFamily.
Preterm births also pose an emotional and financial burden on families, as noted by the CDC. In 2021, these early births, along with low birth weight, accounted for approximately 14.8% of infant deaths in the first year of life. The complexities surrounding preterm deliveries emphasize the need for enhanced prenatal care and deeper investigation into the causes propelling these rates upward.
