Recently, a drug has been developed that can be used as a substitute to the old method of surgery that was used to combat this problem in most cases. The causes for premature birth is generally an underdeveloped placenta. One thing that is known to have an affect on this is cigarette smoke, which lowers the oxygen supply to the placenta. Drinking alcohol in large quantities and smoking marijuana and doing other drugs also increases the risk for having a premature baby. Having preterm babies is not an inherent trait, which is a common rumor, but some conditions which premature babies have later in life, such as diabetes, are inherent.
Age is also a factor which has no effect on bearing a premature child.
Although this is true, a mother who delivers one preterm baby is more likely to deliver another during her next pregnancy than a mother who hasn't had a problem with previous pregnancy. Another high risk for premature pregnancy is when twins, or other multiple babies, are born. This occurs often because the mother's body cannot hold more than one child for the normal full-term of thirty eight to forty two weeks, and must get rid of the children from the uterus in order to return the body to normal and prevent any injuries from occurring inside the mother's womb. Many advances are occurring everyday which enable mothers to feel safer with the care of premature babies. New drugs are being developed and new methods are being tested to ensure the security of a preemie, enabling the rate of deaths and the rate of premature babies born to both be lowered.