5 Things Black Women Should Know About Preterm Birth

Having a ‘bun in the oven’ can be a time of excitement and joy about what’s to come, but if your bun doesn’t ‘bake’ long enough, that can be cause for serious concern. According to the CDC, in 2021, preterm birth affected about one of every 10 infants born in the United States. That same year, the rate of preterm birth among Black women (14.8 percent) was about 50 percent higher than the rate of preterm birth among white or Hispanic women (9.5 percent and 10.2 percent respectively). Most babies born before 24 weeks have little chance of survival. Only about 50 percent will survive and the other 50 percent may die or have permanent problems. However, babies born after 32 weeks have a very high survival rate and usually do not have long-term complications. Premature babies born at hospitals with neonatal intensive care units (NICU) have the best results. The longer your baby is in the womb, the better the chance he or she will be healthy. Here are five things every expectant mother should know about preterm birth to alleviate fears, minimize potential complications, and have a healthy pregnancy. 1. What is preterm labor? A normal pregnancy lasts...