Prematurity

Babies born premature, prior to 37 weeks of pregnancy, may experience health issues because their time of development in the womb is too short.

The Infant Prematurity Assessment and Prevention Program at Saint Peter’s University Hospital, a service of the Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, is a multidisciplinary program designed to help women who have had one or more premature births. Directed by a team of physicians who are experts in maternal-fetal medicine, perinatal and pediatric pathology, genetic medicine, and obstetrics and internal medicine, the program offers a comprehensive approach and evaluation of factors that may contribute to prematurity.

The program is part of Saint Peter’s state-designated Regional Perinatal Center.

Well-known conditions associated with an increased risk for premature delivery include an abnormally-shaped uterus, cervical weakness, intrauterine infection, uterine ischemia, premature separation of the placenta, abnormal placental implantation, and underlying genetic conditions. Since therapies are known to be effective for many causes of premature birth, appropriate treatment before and/or during subsequent pregnancies may potentially reduce the risks of premature births.

For more information about the Saint Peter’s Infant Prematurity Assessment and Prevention Program, call the Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine at 732-745-8549.