Causes of Prematurity

Studies in Prematurity, Stillbirth and Neonatal Death

“…In most cases the results are based upon analysis of records of premature infants, or of stillbirths or deaths, without any control groups, nor is there usually any differentiation by booked and emergency admissions, primiparity and multiparity, or any clear indication of the composition of the hospital sample in relation to the general population. Anderson, Brown and Lyon (1941) in a controlled survey of a year's births in Cincinnati General Hospital, give toxaemia, uterine bleeding and syphilis as the most important complications leading to prematurity. Diddle and Plass (1942) also specify toxaemias and syphilis as being of major importance.…”

SOME FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH PREMATURITY part II.

“…There is more consistent evidence that rest during the last months of pregnancy lowers the risk of premature birth. Thus, Letourneur (1897) gives the following figures of average birth-weights in 3 groups of mothers :worked up to birth, 3,010 g. ; rested for 10 days before birth, 3,290 g. ; rested before birth in antenatal clinic, More recently Anderson, Brown and Lyon (1941) found that 13 per cent of mothers with premature babies said they had not received sufficient rest during pregnancy as compared with 6 per cent of 3,366 g.…”