World Prematurity Day: Born too soon!

The government-run Vanivilas hospital witnesses 30%-33% of its total deliveries as premature, or ‘low birth rate.’

“The babies are either born too soon or born too small. We are not able to pinpoint the exact reason. However, there are various causes like maternal anemia, maternal malnutrition, pregnancy-induced hypertension. The number of pre-term births is alarming,” says Dr Asha Benakappa, from Indira Gandhi Institute of Child Health (IGICH) and the former HOD of Paediatrics at Vani Vilas Hospital.

While the world observes prematurity day on Tuesday, city doctors are noticing an increasing trend in premature births and blaming poor lifestyle, maternal anemia and hypertension among expectant mothers as the factors leading to such births.

Cloudnine hospitals across the city see 30-35 premature births every month. “There is an increase in births of infants before 37 weeks. Premature births are increasing because of IVF and lifestyle diseases. Other causes are: women becoming pregnant later in life, gestational diabetes, hypertension.”

Says Dr Kishore, “Doctors have to focus on both saving and keeping these babies intact without any disability so that they do not become a burden to society.” He adds, "The survival rate is almost 80% for those born at 28 weeks or less. Otherwise it increases." Dr Kumar points out, "Survivors are more prone to Non Communicable Diseases (NCDs), diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular and other respiratory problems.”