HOW TO AVOID HAVING A PREMATURE BABY

Directing more healthcare dollars to prenatal care and reproductive services might improve survival rates of premature babies in the US.

Low birth weight babies are at risk for a host of health problems and medical complications, and may also face developmental problems.

The US has a higher percentage of physicians, including those trained to treat premature newborns, than other countries. The US has about 6 neonatologists for every 10,000 live births, compared with 3.7 in Australia, 3.3 in Canada and 2.7 in the UK. Similarly, the US has more intensive care beds than other nations.

But when it came to the survival rates of infants weighing less than 2,500 grams (5.5 pounds), there was no notable difference between the US and other countries. In fact, the US had a higher infant death rate for infants born weighing more than 5.5 pounds, or normal-weight infants, the authors note.

Rates of infant mortality have declined in all developed countries as technology has improved over the past two decades. In the US, where more money is devoted to neonatal care, rates of infant mortality and low birth weight have remained higher than in other countries.
Pediatrics June 2002;109:1036-1043
British Medical Journal June 8, 2002;324:1353

DR. MERCOLA'S COMMENT: If the US spent more on prenatal care and reproductive services, then less money and resources would be needed for babies with problems associated with premature birth. Instead of trying to cure sick babies, we should be focusing on the cause of the problem. Preventing premature births begins with promoting a healthy pregnancy and helping women carry their babies to term.

Earlier this year, the British Medical Journal confirmed the answer I discovered just two years ago: Fish oil supplements will help prevent premature births. EPA and DHA deficiency are major factors to prevention. Women who had less than two grams were 400% more likely to deliver prematurely. Women who took more than two grams showed even better results.

Another important piece of information is that, not only pregnant women, but everyone should avoid fish. Most fish are irreversibly contaminated with industrial mercury and it's too bad researchers continue to miss the incredible opportunity for promoting truth.

The US doesn't have to spend billions to resolve the problem of premature births, just some simple cod liver oil for most pregnant women would save billions of dollars in this area alone. This is not even considering the massive reduction of autism, learning disorders, ADHD, cancers, heart attacks and just about every malady known to man that would result from increasing omega-3 fat intake.

So, don't wait ten years for scientists to do more research just to tell you something you already know. If properly dosed this is incredibly inexpensive with virtually no toxicity.

So, help save a life and convince a pregnant woman (or for that matter anyone) to start taking fish oil. (www.mercola.com)