“The biggest premature birth prevention tip I have is to find a healthcare provider you trust and maintain a healthy line of communication. Your health provider and additional supportive services are here for you, so do not hesitate to contact your team when you need them.” –Dr. Anne Marie Davis; Obstetrics & Gynecology Physician at Neighborhood Health Center.

 
Premature (also known as preterm) birth is when a baby is born before 37 weeks of pregnancy, which runs a higher risk of death or serious disability.
 
Some risk factors:

• delivering a premature baby in the past, 
• being pregnant with multiples, 
• tobacco and/or substance abuse, 
• short time (less than 18 months) between pregnancies
   
  Racial and ethnic factors:
• According to the CDC, the rate of preterm birth among African American women (14.4%) in 2020 was about 50 percent higher than the rate of preterm birth among white or Hispanic women (9.1% and 9.8% respectively).
   
  What to do if you think you’re experiencing preterm labor:
• See your healthcare provider right away. If you are having preterm labor, your provider may be able to give you medicine so that the baby will be healthier at birth.
   
  To learn more about the services offered by the Neighborhood Health Center OB-GYN department, click here.