In Hawai‘i in 2002, just six babies born prematurely cost between $1 million and $6 million in medical expenses, and were responsible for tripling the cost of giving birth in the state. That alone led to escalation in health-care premiums
In Hawai‘i in 2002, just six babies born prematurely cost between $1 million and $6 million in medical expenses, and were responsible for tripling the cost of giving birth in the state.
That alone led to escalation in health-care premiums for everyone in the state, according to on-island medical professionals.
And while Kaua‘i has the lowest rate of premature births in the state, fewer than one in every 10 newborns, the fact remains that premature birth is the number-one risk for babies, and every baby born prematurely puts an immense emotional and financial strain on both the family and medical system.
Throw crystal methamphetamine, or ice, into the fragile mix, and you have a recipe for disaster, said Dr. Maila Coleman, pediatrician at the West Kauai Clinic.
“Ice is about the worst thing that can happen to a baby, or a pregnant mom,” said Coleman, who trained at Kapi‘olani Medical Center for Women and Children on O‘ahu.
Ice, or methamphetamines, can constrict blood vessels that supply oxygen to the baby, and increase chances of the placenta detaching, life-threatening bleeding for the mother, and damage, prematurity, or death for the baby, she said.
Premature Kaua‘i babies have to be sent off island to Kapi‘olani for care, which is difficult, painful and expensive for families and insurance companies. A single preterm baby can generate costs from $75,000 to $6 million in medical expenses.
For all of these reasons, and to try to educate people about the dangers and expenses associated with premature birth in an effort to reduce the number of premature births on Kaua‘i, a special seminar is set for Tuesday, Nov. 16 at 7 p.m. at the Family Birth Center of the West Kauai Medical Clinic at the Kauai Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waimea.
The prematurity prevention meeting will include a video panel discussion to run that night on Ho‘ike Kaua‘i Community Television, Inc.
For more information, please call Virginia Beck, 335-0579.
Premature birth is the number-one risk for babies, especially in Hawai‘i, which is why Nov. 16 is Prematurity Awareness Day. Across the country and around the state, many activities will be focused on reminding people about prematurity and what can be done to prevent it.
Hawai‘i is sixth in the country, with one out of seven, or 13.7 percent, of babies born prematurely. However, between 1992 and 2002, the rate of infants born preterm in Hawai‘i increased 33 percent. This is faster than any of the five other states with higher prematurity rates.
According to 2002 averages, Kaua‘i had a rate of 9.7 percent premature births, which is lower that Hawai‘i’s overall rate of 12.3 percent. The Big Island has the highest rate at 13.1 percent, followed by Honolulu with 12.5 percent, and Maui with 11 percent. Nationally, 11.9 percent is the average rate for prematurity.
Babies born before 37 weeks of pregnancy are considered premature, as they are not fully developed and ready for life on their own. Many of these babies will have significant medical problems and require extra medical care throughout their infancy. Prematurity can have lifelong effects.
Nationally, about 480,000 babies are born prematurely, at enormous personal and financial costs to the families, and at astronomical costs to the health care system.
Between 1992 and 2002, the rate of infants born preterm in the United States increased 13 percent. In the United States, infants born to mothers who are under 20 years of age or over 35 years of age are more likely to be preterm than infants born to mothers ages 20 to 35.
Some risk factors for preterm birth and low birthweight include: previous preterm and/or low-birthweight birth, multiple birth, smoking, unplanned pregnancy, infections, and poor nutrition.
Use of substances, especially tobacco, alcohol, and methamphetamines, significantly raises the risk of prematurity.
For more information, please see the March of Dimes Web site, www.marchofdimes.com.
Preterm or premature labor happens when a mother goes into labor before 37 completed weeks of pregnancy. This is too early for the baby to be born. Babies born too soon can have lifelong or life-threatening health problems.
Many women are given drugs by medical professionals to try to delay or stop preterm labor. In some cases, birth can be delayed long enough to transport the mother to a hospital with a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Women may also be given medications that can improve the baby’s health.
Warning signs of preterm labor include contractions (the abdomen tightens like a fist) every 10 minutes or more often; change in vaginal discharge (leaking fluid or bleeding from the vagina); Pelvic pressure — the feeling that the baby is pushing down; low, dull backache; cramps that feel like a period; abdominal cramps with or without diarrhea.
If a mother feels she is having preterm labor, or exhibits one or more of the warning signs, she should call her health-care provider (nurse, doctor, midwife) or go to the hospital right away.
The health-care provider may tell the patient to come into the office or go to the hospital for a checkup; stop what she is doing and rest on her left side for one hour; drink two to three glasses of water or juice (not coffee or soda).
If the symptoms get worse or do not go away after one hour, call the provider again or go to the hospital. If the symptoms get better, relax for the rest of the day.
Women should go to the nearest emergency room if they cannot contact their health-care providers for immediate evaluation. Wilcox Memorial Hospital and the West Kauai Medical Center are open 24 hours a day.
Paul C. Curtis, Associate Editor, can be reached at mailto:pcurtis@pulitzer.net or 245-3681 (ext. 224).
