A baby is considered pre-term if it is born before 37 weeks of pregnancy and if it’s less than five and a half pounds to have a low birth weight. Only eleven states have a higher percentage of smaller babies; only four have a higher percentage of premature births. Over the last decade the problem in both Kentucky and the United States as a whole has become worse.
The University of Kentucky is the regional medical center for central and eastern Kentucky. Dr. Eric Reynolds, Associate Professor in U.K.’s Division of Neonatology, tells Action News 36, “We really get all of the sickest babies in the state and we stay pretty full.”
These babies can have significant physical and cognitive problems, some of which do don t disappear. Dr. Reynolds says, “About one in four premature babies will have some kind of life long disability.” High blood pressure, severe diabetes or having twins or triplets can cause babies to be born early or with low birth weights. Dr. James Ferguson, a maternal-fetal medicine specialist, says another problem isn’t medical, “Women who don’t have insurance many times do not avail themselves to pre-natal care.” Something the Commonwealth has taken steps to correct because, Dr. Ferguson says, “If they get care the incidences of pre-term deliveries you know pre-maturity is lower.”
Alcohol and drug use while pregnant are two of the biggest issues but the number one preventable problem is smoking. Bill Stewart, Chairman of the Board of Kentucky Youth Advocates, tells Action News 36, “Kentucky has historically ranked quite high in the percentage of pregnant women who smoke.” Stewart says the simplest way to reduce the problem is to raise the cigarette tax. He says studies show other states with higher cigarette taxes reduce, “The overall percentage of pregnant women who continue to smoke through pregnancy.” Results leading to healthier mothers and bigger, full term babies.
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