More than ten percent of children born in the U.S. are premature, a figure that has been gradually increasing over the years. Prematurity creates many problems for the baby and the family and the costs to treat these babies are very high. The standard definition of prematurity is when a baby is born before the mother is 38 weeks pregnant. Taylor and Hoekstra said, "Consider those born too soon-before their time. Forty weeks is the proper time for forming a baby. Thirty-eight or forty-one will do just fine. But not thirty, not twenty-seven and, there can be no doubt, not twenty-two." Advances in medicine have increased the chance of a baby to live even if it is born after only twenty-two weeks. This is a good thing but it can also cause significant problems for the baby. Prevention of premature birth would be better than fixing it after it happens. This paper will review the reasons for premature birth and ways to prevent it. Medical complications and special needs for the baby along with possible problems in growth and development later in life are also covered. The more we understand about premature birth, the more we might be able to prevent it in the future.
             There are many different reasons for premature birth. It is difficult to find some of the exact reasons for prematurity because it varies so much between mothers. Common factors that are frequently found in references are low maternal weight, poor nutrition, chronic illness and the lack of medical care. Iron deficiency anemia is a risk factor for premature birth. These factors are often associated with poverty or lower income mothers. In addition, factors such as smoking, use of alcohol and drugs are all harmful to a fetus and can lead to premature birth. A mother's age whether too young or too old can contribute to prematurity. If the mother is too young, she is still growing herself and may compete with the baby for nutrition. Older mothers may have medical conditions such a...