Premature Birth Can Happen to Anyone
Are you prepared?
PreTRM® Test: The First-of-its-Kind Predictor of Premature Birth Before Symptoms Occur
A full-term pregnancy is 40 weeks. A pre term or premature birth is defined as before 37 weeks.
1 in 10 babies born in the U.S. is born premature. This equates to approximately 400,000 babies a year.1
Many women are shocked to learn the frequency of premature birth and that it can happen in any pregnancy, even in what looks like a healthy pregnancy.
In the time you read this brochure2
babies will be born prematurely
(28 every minute)
babies will die from prematurity
(2 every minute)
40% of premature babies are born to first time moms.3
Up to 50% of women who have premature babies have no known risk factors.4
More than 80% of women who have a premature baby cannot be identified through traditional medical methods.5,6
WHAT HAPPENS IF MY BABY COMES TOO EARLY?
Brain development: Even at 35 weeks a baby's brain still needs to grow 50%.
Lung development: Lungs are not fully developed until full-term and premature delivery can result in severe respiratory problems.
Feeding difficulty: Prior to 34 weeks, babies are unable to suck and swallow normally.
Body temperature regulations: Babies cannot regulate their body temperature until week 37.
In the short-term, premature babies have numerous medical issues that require more hospital time and pediatric visits.8
These may include:
In the long-term, premature birth can affect a child's development, education, and ability to work later in life.9
These may include:
HERE'S WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT THE PreTRM TEST:
1. It is a simple blood test, prescribed by your obstetrician healthcare provider, performed at 19 or 20 weeks of your pregnancy.
2. It measures and analyzes proteins in your blood that are linked to premature birth.
3. It has been clinically validated in a large study of 5,501 women at 11 obstetric centers across the United States.13
4. The validation study was published in a top-tier peer-reviewed medical journal (American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology) in 2016.13
5. The test was shown to be highly predictive of premature birth in all women, regardless of age, race or ethnicity.13
6. If you're at increased risk, knowing that your baby may deliver prematurely gives you the power to prepare, get extra care for your pregnancy, and give your baby the best start in life.
The PreTRM test is an investment in your pregnancy and in your baby's life. Visit PreTRM.com or call PreTRM Support at 801-990-6607.
"We are those typical parents who had no idea that prematurity was such a prevalent thing until it happened to us. If we had known, we'd have had the opportunity to prepare and do everything possible to give Miranda the best start in life."
"When I had cramps at 29 weeks, my doctor examined me and sent me home, not appearing concerned nor offering any steps to help me prolong my pregnancy. I went into preterm labor at 33 weeks, followed by several hospital visits before I delivered my daughter at 39 weeks. We were very lucky. If I would have known I was at high risk for having her early, I would have made sure my doctor and I were more proactive earlier in my pregnancy to give my daughter the best outcome possible."
"My first baby was born 9 weeks early. If I would have known in advance that premature birth can happen to anyone, even someone like me who was young, healthy with no outward signs of being at increased risk, I would have taken the time to learn everything I could about preterm birth, so then I could of done everything in my power to help my baby."
2 March of Dimes: Born Too Soon, The Global Action Report on Preterm Birth
3 Martin JA, Hamilton BE, et al. Births: Final Data for 2015, National Vital Statistics Report. Center for Disease Control and Prevention. 2017: 66:1
4 Iams J. Prevention of Preterm Parturition, N Engl J Med 2014; 370:254-61
5 Petrini JR, Estimated Effects of 17 Alpha-Hydroxyprogestone Caproate on Preterm Birth in the United States. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists 2005; 105:267-272
6 Hassan SS, Romero R. Vidyadhari D, Fusey S, Baxter, JK, Khandelwal M, et al. Vaginal progesterone reduces the rate of preterm birth in women with a sonographic short cervix: A multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol, 2011: 38; 18-31
7 Eagle WA, Tomashek KM, Dallman C. Late preterm infants: a population at risk. Pediatrics, 2007; 120:1390-1401
8 https://www.marchofdimes.org/complications/premature-babies.aspx
9 https://www.marchofdimes.org/complications/long-term-health-effects-of-premature-birth.aspx
10 Clinical and Cost Impact Analysis of a Novel Prognostic Test for Early Detection of Preterm Birth Am J Perinatol Rep 2016;6:e407-e416
11 Kornhauser M. How Plans Can Improve Outcomes and Cut Costs for Preterm Infant Care. Managed Care. January 2010
12 March of Dimes 2014. Premature Babies Cost Employers $12.7 Billion Annually. http://www.marchofdimes.org/news/premature-babies-cost-employers-127-billion-annually.aspx
13 Saade GR, Boggess KA, Sullivan SA, et al. Development and validation of a spontaneous preterm delivery predictor in asymptomatic women. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2016; 633: e1-e24
14 Wallis, A., Secular Trends in the Rates of Preeclampsia, Eclampsia, and Gestational Hypertension, United States 1987-2004, American Journal of Hpoertension, Vol 21, No 5, May 2008
15 https://parentsguidecordblood.org/sites/default/files/uploaded-files/pgcb_brochure_usa.pdf