Reader comments
Utah gets a 'D' for its premature birthrate

Oh Please! | 7:29 a.m. Nov. 13, 2008

Do we have to involve the government in everything?? Do we have to have people out there rooting for taxpayer money for every cause they can invent? Follow the guidelines in the article for helping to avoid premature births and quit crying to the government for help.

Thanks a lot :-( | 7:34 a.m. Nov. 13, 2008

Wow, thanks for making me feel bad that our two babies decided to come early on their own. Not to mention that the twins my wife is pregnant with now will probably come early too. Thanks a lot. How about some good news in all of this? What a terrible story; I'm sure the March of Dimes has some good things to say too...

Dave | 8:19 a.m. Nov. 13, 2008

The caption on the graphic states "Twenty-three states and the District of Columbia and premature birthrates that exceeded the national average"

Imagine that, about half the states are above average. That's news?

The primary purposes of these press release stories is to solicit money for someone's cause and surprise surprise, the first recommendation out of the chute: "federal support for more research".

The only thing significant about the March of Dimes arbitary 7.6% premature birth objective is to set a standard that shows everyone failing. "More than half million preterm babies are born, and its the leading cause of death for newborns". Yet this "crisis" pales in comparison to the 1.3 million abortions performed every year.

Comments continue below

Wondering | 8:41 a.m. Nov. 13, 2008

I have wondered if womens' obsession with weight control during pregnancy has something to do with this. My sister, who was overly-concerned about her weight and ate so scrupulously during her pregnancy, delivered over a month early and wondered herself if it was because of this. And she is not alone in this. If I had a dime for every girl I knew who was overly concerned about this, I'd have enough money to research this myself.

I would like the medical field to research this further, because I think that doctors and society put way too much emphasis on mothers gaining too much weight (of course it's a concern if they're gaining enormous amounts of it) and it is helping in this process of premature births. It is damaging to mothers' psyches. Husbands need to chill out if their wife gains some weight. It's natural. And women should think about that before they hit the gym too soon after the baby's born, too.

It's about the baby, not you. Your body's going to change. Period. It's a beautiful thing, having children, and that just goes along with it.

Jodi | 8:54 a.m. Nov. 13, 2008

This is exactly what happens when young women get married and have babies at a young age.

Gene | 10:13 a.m. Nov. 13, 2008

I wonder if perchlorate contamination is a factor. The salt ammonium perchlorate makes up 70 per cent by weight of rocket fuel. It is produced in Utah exclusively and is found in drinking water and grdeen lettuce. It causes syndrome "W" or iodine resistance which can cause (among other things) low birth weight.

Cassy | 11:08 a.m. Nov. 13, 2008

Re: Jodi,
Wow. I guess that my marriage at twenty-one and waiting until 26 to have a baby should have meant my first baby would have been full term instead of a miscarriage and my second baby would have been full term, not three 1/2 weeks early. This is exactly what happens. . .

FYI--Blanket statements are foolish.

Father of pre-term twins | 11:54 a.m. Nov. 13, 2008

What a terrible article! How about all the parents of preterm babies who are thrilled and grateful that there is such amazing technology and care available so that when non-textbook pregnancies happen, the babies and mother will be well and safe. Where is the compassion? I think it is important to keep track of preterm birth rates, but there is a lot of good happening in Utah with regards to preterm care not addressed in this article.

What are the criteria for the "D"? How did Utah line up? Leading causes for preterm in Utah? Wouldn't these be important to discuss?

About the following statement, "Among those known to increase, even with late-term preemies, are jaundice, long-term learning, developmental disabilities, respiratory problems and more, he said." According to the many doctors who we have consulted during our pregnancy, babies from 34 to 37 weeks have no disadvantage in comparison the general population. The author should check the facts with more than one expert before making flagrant, unqualified claims about disparate complicated preterm health issues.

Way to go Deseret News. This could have been a great article if the time and attention had been allocated to the important points for Utah.

Mother of two preemies | 11:59 a.m. Nov. 13, 2008

Jodi,

Before you make a blanket statement about preemies being born to young mothers, maybe you should do a little research. I am the mother of 4 precious children, 2 of whom were born extremely early. Both of these babies were born when I was at least 25 years old... is that considered to be too young in your opinion?

That fact is that many of the premature births that occur happen for no known reason, that is what the March of Dimes is trying to figure out. In my case, Toxemia was the cause in the first pregnancy, and my water breaking at 27 weeks in the second pregnancy. Neither of these situations has anything to do with age.

As a mother of preemies, who has to deal with possible life-long consequences of early births, I would appreciate more research into premature births, hopefully to prevent this from happening to other families. After having gone through this firsthand two different times, there is no way I would wish this on anyone. If something can be done to reduce the number of premature births, shouldn't you want to help, too?

jeremy | 12:10 p.m. Nov. 13, 2008

Ahh, that's what you get you "let's make babies and conquer the planet" mormons. When will people learn?

Jodi | 1:02 p.m. Nov. 13, 2008

To Cassi and Mother of Two Premies,

That is exactly what I am saying. Unfortunately, science backs me up 100%.

Hey Jodi | 1:27 p.m. Nov. 13, 2008

Science backs you up!!! Science can't even backup itself. Science is based on a hypothesis not a fact. A hypothesis is frequently disproved down the road, so I doubt that is proof. Oh yeah, isn't the earth flat too?

Wow Oh Please! | 1:32 p.m. Nov. 13, 2008

People would rather hold on to a small amount of their tax dollars than to do research to prevent early births? Than to help and save the lives of our youngest, most needy population? Where is the compassion?

The United States has the highest rates of infant mortality in the developed world. This doesn't upset you? Prenatal health care SUCKS in this country. And you are more worried about money?

Wow.

duh Jodi | 2:04 p.m. Nov. 13, 2008

I had my babies YOUNG and went overdue twice, so I guess your theory is wrong.

Mother of two preemies | 4:05 p.m. Nov. 13, 2008

Jodi,

I'm just wondering...Do have any personal experience regarding premature births, or do you just feel like you know better than anyone else, including my physicians and maternal fetal medicine specialists? Just curious where exactly you get your science and "Facts" from.

jeralyn | 8:27 a.m. Nov. 14, 2008

Prematurity is a huge problem. I would like to see money for research dedicated to find all the reasons, there are so many.
The new Progesterone shots will help some, but others can't be stopped when they come in to Labor and Delivery.
I feel that smoking, illegal drug use, weight obsession, poor diet, and excessive caffeine use are some of the causes we could educate to.

jeralyn | 8:46 a.m. Nov. 14, 2008

I've just been all over the March of Dimes website about prematurity. It is awesome! I also spent 3 months in bed with 3 babies on drugs to get them to 36 weeks. I wish we would have known about the progesterone shots then, I would have used them! It is amazing that the shot is inexpensive and saves millions in dollars of care. It is a no brainer to do way more prevention to get less prematurity. But there will always be the cases that no one can find the cause for.
AWOHN has just published a book on Near term babies and the problems that they have. They are not the same as a fullterm baby. They have many more problems. This is new information and some of the doctors don't know all the information yet.
Let's try to give all the babies their 40 weeks of gestation in the best intensive care unit in the world, MOM's womb!

sw | 7:14 p.m. Nov. 24, 2008

One need to look at a majority of these babies are delivered because mom has toxemia or the infant is in distress and would probably die if not delivered early. Infection is also a big reason that moms go into pemature labor..sometimed that fetus just knows it needs to get out in order to survive. i work as an RN in a NICU and witness it everyday.

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