The rise of premature babies in India

A recent case of successful treatment of a 26 weeks premature baby weighing only 520 gm, took place at Fortis Hospital, Bannerghatta Road. The baby Vaishanavi survived a difficult journey from only 520 gms of weight to a healthy weight of 2.25kg. Poornima mother of baby Vaishanavi, had delivered three babies (triplets), out of which only one could survive. The baby was treated by a team of doctors consisting of DrHariram, Consultant Neonatologist and HOD Paediatric, Dr. Ashok, Dr. Tejal (Pediatricians), DrManisha Singh, Consultant Gynecology and IVF Specialist and DrMangalaRamachandra Consultant Obstetrics and Gynaecology. Preterm birth is a significant public health problem across the world and is the world number one cause of neonatal death and the second leading cause of all child death amongst children under 5 years of age. According to WHO, India has the greatest number of preterm births with nearly 3519100 preterm births every year. Every year an estimated 15 million babies are born preterm (before 37 completed weeks of gestation) and this number is rising.

DrHariram Consultant Neonatologist and HOD Paediatricsaid, “The average weight of a baby born between 37- 40 weeks (term) is 2.5 kgs, whereas baby Vaishnavi was born at 26th week weighing just 520gms. With round-the-clock vigilance and management of treatment related issues for 3 months in NICU, she now weighs 2.25kg. The chance of survival of such babies is slim due to extreme prematurity, but this baby girl has made it thanks to the advance care in Neonatal Intensive care at Fortis Hospital and determined efforts of doctors and nurses.”

Baby Vaishnavi was conceived through IVF (In vitro fertilization).  IVF is a common and effective type of assisted reproductive technology (ART) that helps women to conceive. The IVF procedure involves fertilizing an egg outside the body, in a laboratory dish, and then implanting the embryo in a woman's uterus.

Dr Srikanth Kona,Consultant Neonatologist & Pediatrician  said that “ Prematurity is a leading cause of neonatal mortality and morbidity in India. In India, out of 26 million live births annually, 3.5 million are preterm and out of these 3.03 lakh babies die due to complications of preterm birth. Preterm birth has emerged as the leading cause of neonatal death. These numbers don’t include babies under 28 weeks (suggesting that it is a tip of the iceberg!)”

Major Causes :

Increases in maternal age

Underlying maternal health problems such as diabetes and high blood pressure

Low socio economic conditions

Lack of education and awareness among the population

Lack of  availability of adequate tertiary level medical services,

Greater use of infertility treatments leading to increased rates of multiple pregnancies, and changes in obstetric practices such as more caesarean births before term.

No adequate spacing in between the pregnancies.

Across 184 countries, the rate of preterm birth ranges from 5% to 18% of babies born. The chance of survival of such babies has increased because of medical advancement. According to Born Too Soon: The Global Action Report on Preterm Birth, released by Save the Children, The March of Dimes Foundation, the Partnership for Maternal, Newborn & Child Health and The World Health Organization - India tops the list of 10 nations contributing 60% of the world’s premature deliveries – with the maximum number of preterm births with 3,519,100 of them, almost 24% of the total number.