Though neonatal specialists around the world have made tremendous advances in medical treatment for babies born too early, the rates of premature births are staggering. According to the March of Dimes, the rate of premature births in the United States alone has risen 29 percent since 1981, with more than 470,000 babies born prematurely each year.

"One contributor to this is the increasing rate of multiple births, often in the setting of infertility treatments, so there is a change in the distribution of the type of patient experiencing preterm labor," says Dr. Sarah H. Poggi, perinatologist at the Brock Family Perinatal Diagnostic Center at Inova Alexandria Hospital in Alexandria, Va.

But not all the news about premature birth rates is bad. In fact, new treatment options are proving promising for babies born a little too early.

There are multiple factors that tend to put certain women at risk for premature labor. These factors include women with a previous history of preterm labor/delivery, hormonal imbalances, smoking, drug and alcohol abuse, chronic illnesses such as diabetes and high blood pressure.

Dr. Poggi says women who are, "carrying multiples or those who have previously undergone cervical surgery, uterine defects, as well as upper genital tract infections" are also deemed at-risk. Expectant women also may be at an increased vulnerability if they are younger than 17 years or older than 35, are of African-American descent or if they have given birth within the last 18 months.

The medical complications that babies born prematurely can experience are both numerous and life-threatening. This is mainly due to the fact that their internal organs are not completely ready to function on their own.

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