New research has found signs that may help researchers better understand why some babies are born early. Some signs are present as early as the first trimester.
Preterm births (when a baby is born before week 37 of pregnancy) and early-term births (when a baby is born in week 37 or 38 of pregnancy) can have lasting health effects. Babies are still growing their brain, lungs and other organs during the final weeks of pregnancy. When a baby is born too early, they can have breathing problems, hearing loss, vision problems, and more.
In a study published in Nature Health, researchers from Emory University's Rollins School of Public Health looked for molecular differences between pregnancies that ended early and those that reached full term. They studied this using blood samples from pregnant African American women in Atlanta.
The research team also investigated molecular differences between early births that happened spontaneously and those that happened because of medical concerns affecting the mother or baby.
Key findings:
