More than 1,000 babies are born preterm every day.6,7

The U.S. preterm birth rate is 9.6%, meaning approximately 1 in every 10 babies is born preterm.6 Preliminary 2016 data showed an increase in the preterm birth rate (9.84%) for a second year in a row.8
Preterm, including late preterm, infants have experienced more complications and required more time and more intensive medical care than their term counterparts.9

There are variety of risk factors associated with preterm birth
You play an important role in supporting identification and education of at-risk patients.
Leading risk factors include:3,6
- Maternal history of spontaneous preterm birth
- Short cervical length
- Pregnancy with multiples
- African American ethnicity
Other risk factors include, but are not limited to:10
- High blood pressure, stress, diabetes, or being overweight or underweight
- Smoking, drinking alcohol, or using drugs
- Short time between pregnancies
- Certain infections during pregnancy