RALEIGH, N.C. — Sunday, Nov. 17 is World Prematurity Day — a day meant to bring awareness about the affects preterm birth can have on mothers.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the word preterm is used when a baby is born too early, before 37 weeks of pregnancy.

What You Need To Know

  • Nov. 17  is World Prematurity Day. It’s a day to bring awareness about the impacts preterm birth can have on mothers
  • Preterm is a term used when a baby is born too early, before 37 weeks of pregnancy
  • The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said preterm birth affects about one in 10 U.S. births, with frican American women were 50% more likely to have a premature baby than White women
  • Doctors say there are steps mothers can take to reduce their risk of preterm birth

As of 2022, CDC said preterm birth affected about one in every 10 infants born in the U.S., with African American women being 50% more likely to have a premature baby than White women.

Neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) Neonatologists Dr. Kristen Coggin said doctors are calling this a serious health crisis.

“Some of the known maternal causes to a woman delivering prematurely are advanced aged or delivering later in life, chronic illnesses such as high blood pressure and diabetes, and infections,” Dr. Coggin explained.

Doctors said there are steps mothers can take to reduce their risk of preterm birth.

“Going in the pregnancy healthy, knowing your risk before you get pregnant, seeking good comprehensive and prenatal care, good diet and avoiding illicit substances,” Dr. Coggin explained.