A premature or preterm birth is when a baby is born before 37 weeks. As many as 1 in 10 babies are born prematurely in the U.S., and parents and healthcare providers are understandably most concerned with the immediate needs of premature babies, who may have under-developed organ systems or developmental delays. Preemie babies usually will need to spend some time in the NICU, which can be stressful for parents who worry about their baby’s long-term health prospects. But recent research has good news on that front.

Your preemie baby is probably going to grow up to be just fine. A new study out of Sweden shows that a majority of people born prematurely from the 1970s through the 1990s survived to adulthood with no serious health complications.1Crump C, Winkleby MA, Sundquist J, Sundquist K. Prevalence of Survival Without Major Comorbidities Among Adults Born Prematurely. JAMA. 2019;322(16):1580–1588. doi:10.1001/jama.2019.15040

The 2019 study, published in JAMA, looked at data on babies born in Sweden from 1973-1997, 5.8% of whom were born preterm.2Crump C, Winkleby MA, Sundquist J, Sundquist K. Prevalence of Survival Without Major Comorbidities Among Adults Born Prematurely. JAMA. 2019;322(16):1580–1588. doi:10.1001/jama.2019.15040 Researchers then looked at the health stats of those people through 2015, when they were 18-43 years old. The study examined whether they had any diseases such as heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, lung disease and neuropsychiatric disorders.

Related: How can I prevent preterm labor?

Of the people who were born prematurely, 55% were alive in 2015 and had no serious physical or mental health issues. That’s not much worse than the 63% of people who were born full-term. The results were similar for both men and women.

“Our findings reflect the apparent resilience of preterm birth survivors in maintaining good health,” the study’s lead author, Dr. Casey Crump of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City, told Reuters. “Despite increased risks of several chronic disorders, the majority can still have good overall health in adulthood.”

Of course, premature birth has so many risks for infants—as the development of their lungs, eyes, digestive systems and more isn’t complete by the time they’re born. It is hard to be born early, but the odds of survival of premature babies has steadily gone up since the 1970s and the preemie babies who are now in their 30s and 40s are proof that today’s little ones have a good chance of growing up into healthy, strong adults.

Related: 5 ways to protect your baby’s microbiome after birth

Warning signs of preterm labor

According to the CDC, most cases of preterm labor (labor before 37 weeks of pregnancy) happen unexpectedly and the cause is unknown.

Like regular labor, signs of early labor may include the following symptoms:

  • Contractions (the abdomen tightens like a fist) every 10 minutes or more often
  • Change in vaginal discharge (a significant increase in the amount of discharge or leaking fluid or bleeding from the vagina)
  • Pelvic pressure—the feeling that the baby is pushing down
  • Low, dull backache
  • Cramps that feel like a menstrual period
  • Abdominal cramps with or without diarrhea

How to prevent preterm birth

Preterm birth can’t always be prevented, and there are several factors, including age and medical history and length of time between pregnancies, that may make some women more prone to preterm birth.

However, there are steps you can take to reduce the risk of going into preterm labor. According to the CDC, these steps are to:

  • Quit smoking
  • Avoid alcohol and drugs
  • Keep up with prenatal care throughout pregnancy
  • Seek medical attention for any warning signs or symptoms of preterm labor
  • Talk with your doctor or other healthcare provider about the use of progesterone treatment if you had a previous preterm birth
  • Waiting at least 18 months between pregnancies

References

Crump C, Winkleby MA, Sundquist J, Sundquist K. Prevalence of Survival Without Major Comorbidities Among Adults Born Prematurely. JAMA. 2019;322(16):1580–1588. doi:10.1001/jama.2019.15040

This story was originally published on Oct. 28, 2019. It has been updated.

Source(s)

  • 1
    Crump C, Winkleby MA, Sundquist J, Sundquist K. Prevalence of Survival Without Major Comorbidities Among Adults Born Prematurely. JAMA. 2019;322(16):1580–1588. doi:10.1001/jama.2019.15040
  • 2
    Crump C, Winkleby MA, Sundquist J, Sundquist K. Prevalence of Survival Without Major Comorbidities Among Adults Born Prematurely. JAMA. 2019;322(16):1580–1588. doi:10.1001/jama.2019.15040