Skip to: Content
Skip to: Site Navigation
Skip to: Search

July 25, 2008 12:31:44 PM CDT

Learn about Newser Points »

« Back to the grid | Next story »

Sex a Factor in Preemie Survival

Posted Apr 17, 08 3:53 PM CDT in Science & Health 

(Newser) – Gestational age is not the only factor determining odds of a very premature baby's survival, a study finds. Being female, receiving lung-maturing steroids before birth, an extra 3½ ounces of weight and being a single birth all help as much as an extra week of pregnancy, the AP reports. The findings will help doctors and parents decide on heroic measures to save a fragile preemie.

Sources Associated Press, CTV

0 comments | Print E-mail | Digg Seed this on Newsvine Add this link to Del.icio.us StumbleUpon

Related Newser Stories

  • Hospitals Build 'Womb Rooms' for Preemies

    May 29, 07 5:36 PM CDT
    Hospitals Build 'Womb Rooms' for Preemies With preterm births soaring—and tinier preemies surviving—many hospitals are redesigning their neonatal units to provide environments closer to those babies experience in utero, the New York Times reports. The new rooms are darker and quieter, and provide space for skin-to-skin contact with parents (not to speak of places for parents to sleep). More »

Gestational age%u2014the number of weeks from fertilization to birth%u2014is closely connected to chances of survival. In the study, 95% of babies born at 22 weeks died, while at 25 weeks, only about...   (Getty Images (by Event))
The new study focused on 4,200 extremely premature infants born at hospitals across the country, focusing on babies born after 22 to 25 weeks in the womb. A full term is about 40 weeks.   (AP Photo/Capital Health System, Laura Cann)
Half died within two years after birth. About 12% survived, with impairments like blindness, deafness or cerebral palsy. About the same number had even more severe physical or mental disabilities.   (KRT Photos)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
Our editors also recommend:

Threads (1 of 1)

Tags

baby  • New England Journal of Medicine  • preemies  • premature babies


Loading...

Loading...

Today's Most Popular


Other Science & Health Stories

What is Newser?

2008 Codie Finalist

Newser gives you more news in less time. We search for the best and most important stories all over the web, read them for you, and deliver concise and sharp summaries—along with links to the full text. Newser provides a way to stay on top of an ever-expanding horizon of news and opinion—politics, sports, business, trends, technology, personalities, crimes, and controversies. Newser keeps you not just better informed, but, with our signature graphic interface and smart condensed format, more enjoyably informed.

Learn more »