Excellus BlueCross BlueShield released new data emphasizing the frequency and risks of premature births. It comes as part of an effort to dissuade mothers from opting for unnecessary early delivery.
"Our obstetricians and our pediatricians and our family practitioners are already having these conversations,” said Dr. Jamie Kerr, the insurer’s Chief Medical Officer for Utilization Management. “This is about enhancing the information and hopefully facilitating the information, with the public."
According to statistics cited by Excellus, within upstate New York in 2013, one-third of babies were born before a full nine months of development. One-third of these births were cesarean sections.
These statistics, in tandem with the American Board of Internal Medicine's Choosing Wisely initiative, show that a significant portion of brain development occurs between weeks 35 and 39. A baby's lungs are still maturing between weeks 38 and 39. They are also not yet able to suck and swallow.
This makes it 60 percent more likely that babies born during the early period will require intensive medical care.
"There's a higher likelihood of respiratory problems, and feeding problems, and likelihood of being admitted to an intensive care unit. So that the fuller term the baby, the closer they are to term, which is really at 39-41 weeks, the lower the complication rates."
The last weeks in the womb before birth are undoubtedly some of the most important.
BlueCross BlueShield says it hopes to promote improved quality of care and educated conversations between patients and doctors. It is hoped that such changes will encourage healthier deliveries across the region and the state.