Filed under: Child Development, Pregnancy and Birth, Infant / First year, High-risk pregnancy, Birth complications, Current Studies and ResearchA study published this week in the Journal of the American Medical Association provides the most information so far about the long-term outcomes of babies born prematurely. Researchers found that babies born preterm are at an increased risk of death not only during the neonatal periods, but also during early childhood. Further, adults who were born prematurely were less likely to finish high school and less likely to marry than their full-term peers. An effect on future generations was also found: women born prematurely were more likely to deliver premature babies themselves.The review, which followed 1.2 million births in Norway over decades, provides an important long-term perspective of the effects of prematurity. While the study notes increased risks, it doesn't provide a complete explanation for WHY these effects are seen well into adulthood. Follow-up research will be needed to help flesh out specific causes, though scientists hypothesize that higher risk of death may be linked to genetic differences, birth defects, and socioeconomic factors.Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments



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