FDA Approves First Medication to Prevent Premature Births

This is great news for women who have experienced premature births in previous pregnancies. Way to often a premature birth has severe or fatal consequences for the newborn. Premature birth is often seen in women carrying twins and in women with certain health conditions and of course, it can also happen to women for no apparent reason.

Statistics from the March of Dimes

For those of you who are not familiar with the March of Dimes they are an organization that works to help premature babies, babies born with birth defects generally everything they do is based on “healthier, stronger babies” they have a specific campaign for premature babies called the prematurity campaign. A premature baby is a baby born at less than 37 weeks. There statistics state one in eight babies born in the United States is premature. The premature birth rate has increased by thirty-five percent in the last twenty-five years. They also stated babies born between 34 and 36 weeks make up approximately three-quarters of all premature births.

The Medication - Makena

The medication is expected to decrease the amount of babies born before 37 weeks. The medication has been approved for women who have previously given birth to a premature baby or any woman at risk for given birth prematurely. At this time, it is unclear whether the medication is acceptable for women carrying more than one baby.

Sources: http://health.yahoo.net/news/s/hsn/fdaapprovesfirstdrugtopreventprematur...

http://www.marchofdimes.com/prematurityawareness.html