This article is more than 5 years old. Information may no longer be current.

Women born prematurely have increased risk of delivering preterm

The risk of premature delivery is significantly higher among women who were born prematurely themselves, compared with women who were born at-term, according to recently published data in Obstetrics and Gynecology.

“Our findings are unequivocal. The simple fact of being born prematurely increases risk of premature delivery,” Ariana Boivin, PhD, Department of Paediatrics, Sainte-Justine University Hospital and Research Center, Montreal, said in a press release.

To assess the correlation between women born prematurely and preterm delivery, researchers conducted a study of all women born preterm (n = 51,148) and at-term births (n = 823,991) between 1976 and 1995 in Quebec, Canada. 

The study included 16,714 women born at-term and 7,405 women who were born preterm: 6,851 were born between 32 and 36 weeks of gestation and 552 were born before 32 weeks of gestation. There were 12,248 births recorded among preterm women and 27,879 recorded for at-term women.

Overall, at least one preterm delivery was seen among 14.2% of women who were born prior to 32 weeks gestation and 13% of women born between 32 and 36 weeks gestation, compared with only 9.8% of women who were born at-term.

Women who were born premature also had an increased risk of delivering very prematurely (prior to 32 weeks): 2.4% of women born prior to 32 weeks and 1.8% of women born between 32 and 36 weeks delivered a very preterm newborn.

Study co-author Anne Monique Nuyt, MD, also of Sainte-Justine University Hospital and Research Center, said that while these findings are not altogether alarming, they are substantial enough to consider preterm birth a risk factor during pregnancy. By establishing a direct link to preterm birth and preterm delivery, Nuyt hopes that this will boost research on the biological and genetic mechanisms of premature labor.

Anne Monique Nuyt

“Knowing that being born preterm is a risk factor for expectant mothers, obstetricians could inform their patients of the warning signs of premature labor, so they can be vigilant and respond quickly if contractions occur. Including preterm in the risk factors for pregnancy would also help to better target women most at risk when a preventative treatment becomes available,” Nuyt said in a press release. – by Casey Hower

Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.