Premature Birth Leading Cause of Infant Mortality

[dawngloves, BSN, RN]

CHICAGO (Reuters) - Premature births accounted for more than one-third of U.S. infant deaths in 2002, twice what was previously reported, making it the leading cause of infant mortality, government researchers said on Monday.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20061002/hl_nm/premature_dc;_ylt=AmfMlCZ6HLhRjh03Sa0NiyLVJRIF;_ylu=X3oDMTA0cDJlYmhvBHNlYwM-

[BSNtobe2009]

The most disturbing part of that article...was the RATE of premature births were actually increasing....why is this in a country where we probably have the best prenatal care?

The only thing I can think of is that because the level of survival for preemies is amazing compared to just a few years ago, I am wondering if this is due to doctors choosing to deliver rather than waiting and taking chances with difficult pregnancies.

Also, having 37 weeks as a marker to define a baby that is and isn't a preemie...no wonder the rate has gone up.