The Neonatal Research Institute (NRI) was established with a mission to develop better outcomes for preterm infants during the first moments of life. Miracle Babies has partnered with Dr. Anup Katheria at SHARP’s NRI to conduct a study which seeks to determine whether delayed cord clamping can improve long-term brain function for babies needing resuscitation at birth.

StemCyte is a global cord blood therapeutics company and one of our trusted research partners. No current research projects are underway, but we look forward to engaging in future partnerships with this innovative company.

Women with a spontaneous preterm birth are more likely to experience preterm labor and delivery in subsequent pregnancies. The earlier a previous premature birth took place, the more likely it is that the next birth occurs as early or even earlier. Make sure that your Doctor knows about your pregnancy history so that she or he can take all the necessary precautions to prevent a preterm birth from occurring again. If your previous preterm birth was the direct result of a known risk factor (many of which are described on this page), you should attempt to change your behavior prior to becoming pregnant again, or as early into your subsequent pregnancy as possible.

17 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone caproate (more commonly known as 17P, or by the brand name Makena) is a synthetic form of progesterone that has been shown to reduce the recurrence of preterm birth for women with singleton gestations that have a history of at least one preterm delivery. Studies have shown that on average, women who use 17P reduce their chance of having another preterm birth by 33%. If you think you are a candidate for this medication, talk to your physician about how to obtain a prescription.

IVF is one of the greatest inventions of modern time, allowing women who otherwise would not have been able to get pregnant the opportunity to carry their own child. Unfortunately, research is starting to show that this practice can put a woman at risk of delivering prematurely. In fact, when compared with a naturally conceived baby, IVF singletons have been found to be twice as likely to be born premature, and twins conceived via IVF are 23% more likely to be born early than twins conceived naturally.

Some researchers attribute the association between IVF and preterm birth to hormonal factors. Women are often given a large dose of hormones to increase the number of eggs they will release, and some scientists believe that these hormones affect the way that the embryo implants in the uterine wall. Others who have looked at the relationship believe that women who tend to seek out IVF services often have underlying risk factors (advanced maternal age, overweight, underlying mental health issues) that cause them to deliver prematurely more often than their natural pregnancy counterparts.

In order to decrease your risk of delivering prematurely when undergoing IVF, you should strive to be as physically and mentally healthy as possible before starting the procedure. Women and their partners should also consider working with trusted fertility Doctors that promote single embryo transfers, a technique that decrease the chance of unplanned multiples.

Proper nutrition is such an important part of achieving a healthy pregnancy, and one of the most easily modifiable behaviors. Studies have found that women who eat a diet rich in vegetable, fruits, and whole grains, and those that consume plenty of water are less likely to deliver prematurely.

Most pregnant women need an additional 300 calories each day, although the exact amount depend on your pre-pregnancy weight. Women should make sure that they are eating foods from each of the five food groups, choosing foods that are high in protein, and putting as much color on their plates as possible. Additionally, staying well hydrated is one of the most important things you can do to prevent some of the minor discomforts of pregnancy. Pregnant women should aim to drink at least 8 glasses of water every day.

The My Plate Checklist Calculator is a great tool for pregnant and breastfeeding moms who want to monitor their caloric intake and meet their food group targets.

The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) provides Federal grants to States for supplemental foods, health care referrals, and nutrition education for low-income pregnant, breastfeeding, and non-breastfeeding postpartum women, and to infants and children up to age five who are found to be at nutritional risk. For more information or to enroll in the WIC program, please contact your state WIC contact.