WHITE PLAINS, N.Y., MARCH 29, 2006 – Early cesarean sections and medically induced labor may be contributing to the growing number of babies who are born late pre-term, between 34 and 36 weeks gestation, the March of Dimes warned in response to the National Institutes of Health conference today.

 “While babies born late preterm often are considered healthy, they have higher risks of complications at birth than babies born just a few weeks later at full term,” said Nancy Green, M.D., medical director of the March of Dimes, in response to the NIH's “State-of-the-Science Conference: Cesarean Delivery on Maternal Request.”  “Keep in mind that a baby's lungs and brain are last to mature during pregnancy. Late preterm babies are more likely to have problems with breathing, feeding or maintaining their temperature and to develop jaundice than full term babies.”

Nearly a half million babies are born too soon each year. Late preterm babies account for 70 percent of all premature births and are the fastest growing subgroup of premature babies.

It can be difficult to pinpoint the conception date and being off by just a week or two can result in a premature birth, possibly making a difference in a baby's health. The potential for this discrepancy should be kept in mind when scheduling a c-section or induction to avoid an unnecessary premature birth. 

Cesarean sections are an important and necessary tool available to doctors to protect the health of a mother and her baby, especially when there are complications. But, women and their doctors should aim for continuing a pregnancy to term, if medically advisable, to give the baby a healthy start in life. As a surgical procedure, cesarean sections have risks to the mother, therefore, appropriate decision includes weighing the potential risk and benefits of this procedure.