Go right to the answers with a text-only version of the quiz
Narration: Felice Freyer / Flash design: Mike Foran, Beth Heaney / Photos: Kathy Borchers
Are you at risk for premature delivery?
There's no way to predict for sure.
But researchers have identified several circumstances that can make a difference.
Examine each risk factor:
Your age | Your race or ethnicity | Where you live | Your medical history | Your lifestyle | If you're having multiples | The unknowns
Your age
True or False? The younger you are, the less likely you are to have a premature delivery.
False.
Age matters, but both the very young and older women face increased risks.
Examine each risk factor:
Your age | Your race or ethnicity | Where you live | Your medical history | Your lifestyle | If you're having multiples | The unknowns
Your race or ethnicity
Who do you think is more likely to deliver her baby early –
a college-educated African-American woman or a white woman who didn't get past eighth grade?
Highly educated black women are more likely to deliver prematurely than white women with little education.
African-Americans are much more likely to have premature babies, for reasons that are poorly understood.
Examine each risk factor:
Your age | Your race or ethnicity | Where you live | Your medical history | Your lifestyle | If you're having multiples | The unknowns
Where you live
Premature births appear to be more common in the United States than in other developed countries,
although differences in measurement make it hard to compare.
One thing we do know, if you're living here, but you were born in a foreign country,
you are less likely to deliver prematurely than an American-born woman.
Within the United States, preterm births vary by region.
Can you guess which New England state has the highest rate of preterm births?
Rhode Island has the hightest prematurity rate in New England.
In 2005, 12.1% of babies born here were premature and the rate has changed little since then.
Examine each risk factor:
Your age | Your race or ethnicity | Where you live | Your medical history | Your lifestyle | If you're having multiples | The unknowns
Your medical history
Certain medical conditions make premature birth more likely.
Do you think it makes a difference if you've previously had a preterm birth?
Having previously delivered a baby early is the leading risk factor for another premature birth,
but there are others. Here are the major medical risk factors:
| • A previous preterm birth • Multiple miscarriages • Infertility treatment • Family history • Infections • Uterine or cervical abnormalities • Weighing too much or too little • Short inter-pregnancy interval • Diabetes, high blood pressure, clotting disorders • Birth defects |
Examine each risk factor:
Your age | Your race or ethnicity | Where you live | Your medical history | Your lifestyle | If you're having multiples | The unknowns
Your lifestyle
It probably comes as no surprise that the way you live affects your pregnancy.
But do you think it makes a difference whether you're married or not?
Married women have lower rates of preterm birth.
You are more likely to have a preterm birth if you:
| • Are unmarried • Have less than 13 years of education • Did not intend to become pregnant • Smoke tobacco • Drink alcohol • Use illegal drugs • Are poor or live in a disadvantaged neighborhood • Are a victim of domestic violence • Are under chronic stress • Work long hours with long periods of standing |
Examine each risk factor:
Your age | Your race or ethnicity | Where you live | Your medical history | Your lifestyle | If you're having multiples | The unknowns
If you're having multiples
If you're carrying twins, triplets or more, you have the highest risk of premature birth.
How high do you think it is?
If you're carrying multiples, is your risk of a premature birth greater or less than 50 percent?
More than half of all multiple pregancies end prematurely.
Examine each risk factor:
Your age | Your race or ethnicity | Where you live | Your medical history | Your lifestyle | If you're having multiples | The unknowns
The unknowns
What if you have none of the risk factors? Does that mean it can't happen to you?
Sadly, no. Even if you don't have any of the risk factors listed, you can still have a premature baby.
In close to 40 percent of premature births, doctors don't know why it happened. Many mysteries remain.
So, is there anything you can do to prevent premature delivery?
Each individual can lower her own risk:
|
• Ask your doctor about taking progesterone to prevent a recurrence • Eat a healthy diet rich in fruits and vegetables • Avoid alcohol, tobacco, illegal drugs and herbal remedies • Get regular physical activity • Find help if your partner is abusive • Maintain a healthy weight • Get regular pre-natal care |
Examine each risk factor:
Your age | Your race or ethnicity | Where you live | Your medical history | Your lifestyle | If you're having multiples | The unknowns
©The Providence Journal 2008