premature birth

A bed in the neonatal intensive care unit at Broward Health in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Far more American women deliver their babies prematurely than any other Western country, leading to maternal and infant deaths, billions of dollars of intensive care, and lifelong disabilities for the children who survive.

US remains a grim leader in preterm births. Why? And can we fix it?

Sarah Varney

Florida is one of the least generous states when it comes to public health insurance. About 1 in 6 women of childbearing age here are uninsured, reducing their access to quality prenatal care and making it more difficult to begin a healthy pregnancy.

A large study published in late October found that weekly injections of Makena during the latter months of pregnancy "did not decrease recurrent preterm births."

NPR Health

Controversy Kicks Up Over A Drug Meant To Prevent Premature Birth

Patti Neighmond

An expert panel wants the Food And Drug Administration to withdraw its approval for Makena, because a large study shows the drug doesn't work. But some doctors say the evidence isn't clear-cut.

Their research is still in early stages, but Kristin Myers (left), a mechanical engineer, and Dr. Joy Vink, an OB-GYN, both at Columbia University, have already learned that cervical tissue is a more complicated mix of material than doctors ever realized.

NPR Health

Scientific Duo Gets Back To Basics To Make Childbirth Safer

Alison Kodjak

Remarkably little is known about the fundamentals of how a woman carries a baby inside her. Two Columbia University researchers aim to change that, to reduce the number of kids born too soon.