Preterm birth & low birth weight

Babies born too early (before 37 weeks) have higher rates of death and disability.

Many times we do not know what causes women to deliver their babies early. Several factors may increase the likelihood that a woman could deliver early.1 Below are groups with higher rates of preterm birth.

Demographic or social characteristics

• Teens.

• Women who become pregnant over age 35.

• Black women.*

• Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander women.*

• American Indian or Alaska Native women.*

• Women with lower incomes.

• Women experiencing stress.

Pregnancy and medical conditions

• Women who have had a prior preterm birth.

• Women with an infection, including COVID-19.

• Women carrying more than 1 baby (twins, triplets, or more).

• Women with high blood pressure conditions during pregnancy.

Behavioral characteristics

• Women who use tobacco.

• Women who use drugs.

*Race is used to describe and categorize groups of people by physical characteristics such as skin color or lineage. It is not a biological driver of differences in preterm birth.

Talk with your doctor about signs of preterm labor and what to do.