Preterm birth risk

• Around 1 in 8 babies in the United States is born premature, increasing the risk for long hospital stays and health problems down the road. But knowing which first-time moms are more likely to go into labor preterm is not easy.
(Huffington Post)
• July 19, 2012 — Clinical characteristics are a poor predictor of spontaneous preterm birth (SPTB) in nulliparous women, according to the results of a new study.
(Medscape News)
• SYDNEY: Women who quaff marijuana can more than double the risk of giving birth to a baby prematurely, according to an international study.
(Times of India)
• However, she said it was not clear whether it was solely the marijuana or other environmental factors contributing to the increased risk of premature birth.
(au.news.yahoo.com)
• MARK COLVIN: Adelaide University researchers are developing a genetic test for premature births, which they believe will revolutionise antenatal care.
(ABC Online)
• ISLAMABAD: One of the largest studies to investigate birth complications and later mental health has found that premature birth constitutes a single, independent risk factor for a range of severe psychiatric disorders.
(Pakistan News Service)
• Premature birth may increase the risk for serious mental illness in adolescence and young adulthood, a recent study reports.
(New York Times)
• July 13, 2012 -- The U.S. preterm birth rate dropped for the fourth year in a row, according to a new federal report. In 2010, 12% of infants were born before 37 weeks, down from 12.8% in 2006.
(MedicineNet.com)
• The report notes that infants born preterm or of low birth weight are at high risk of early death and long-term health and developmental problems.
(Jefferson City News Tribune Online)
• In summary, vigorous physical activity does not appear to be detrimental to the timing of birth or birthweight.
(Medscape News)