The March of Dimes is teaming with the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology to reduce the number of births that are scheduled a few weeks early for nonmedical reasons.
Babies born too early may have more health problems at birth and later in life than babies born full term, the groups say. A full-term pregnancy lasts 40 weeks, from conception to delivery. Here's why your baby needs that time in the womb:
* Important organs including the brain, lungs and liver, need all of that time to fully develop.
* He is less likely to have vision and hearing problems after birth.
* He has time to gain more weight in the womb, and babies born at a healthy weight have an easier time staying warm than babies born too small.
* He can suck and swallow and stay awake long enough to eat after he's born; babies born early sometimes can't do these things.