November 2009

Drop in Early Births Would Mean Fewer Infant Deaths
Reuters
Nov 4, 2009
The United States' extraordinarily high number of babies born too soon explains why the nation has an infant death rate significantly higher when compared to Europe, according to a new report from the National Center for Health Statistics.

Gates Foundation: Kangaroo Mother Care
ABC News
Nov 10, 2009
Every year in Malawi 20,000 mothers lose their pre-term babies.

Exposure to deadly bacteria can result in stillbirths
The Medical News
Nov 13, 2009
A new study shows the risk for severe effects of exposure to Listeria monocytogenes among susceptible populations may occur at doses lower than suggested by previous studies.

Katie Couric's Notebook: Premature Birth
CBS Evening News
Nov 17, 2009
It's a key factor used to determine the quality of health care in industrialized nations: the infant mortality rate.

Late preterm birth is a risk factor for growth faltering in early childhood: a cohort study
BioMed Central
Nov 16, 2009
Rates of preterm birth are increasing worldwide and this increase is mostly due to infants born between 34 and 36 weeks of gestational age, the so-called "late preterm" births. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of late preterm birth over growth outcomes, assessed when children were 12 and 24 months old.

US Gets a 'D' for Preterm Birth Rate
Science Daily
Nov 17, 2009
For the second consecutive year, the United States earned only a "D" on the March of Dimes Premature Birth Report Card, demonstrating that more than half a million of our nation's newborns didn't get the healthy start they deserved.

Babies Born "A Little" Too Early Face Serious Health Problems
24-7 Press Release
Nov 20, 2009
The last few weeks of a woman's pregnancy can be uncomfortable, exhausting, and filled with anxious feelings. It's tempting for many women (and their doctors) to see an induction or cesarean surgery "just a little" before the due date as a welcome relief. However, a growing amount of research is showing that giving a baby those last few weeks of gestation can be critical to having a healthy baby.

New guidelines push back age for Pap smears
Reuters
Nov 20, 2009
Women in the United States should start cervical cancer screening at age 21 and most do not need an annual Pap smear, according to new guidelines issued on Friday that aim to reduce the risk of unnecessary treatment.